Price Gouging, Illegal Sales to China Make it Difficult for Africans to Protect Themselves Against Infection

Face masks, hand sanitizers and other protective gear against infection from the deadly COVID-19 are becoming harder to find in many African cities as speculators hoard supplies and sell them overseas. Meantime, when they are available, prices have reportedly surged so high in some pharmacies putting them out of reach of many average consumers.

  • NIGERIA: According to the coordinator of Pharmalliance Network Nigeria, Adeshina Opanubi,  the cost of face masks in the open market has skyrocketed to N200,000 up from N30,000 and N60,000 before the coronavirus incident in the country. (PUNCH)
  • KENYA: Tens of thousands of masks have reportedly gone missing and are believed to have been sold to China even though the government outlawed the export of masks, according to an investigation by the Daily Nation newspaper. (DAILY NATION)

SUGGESTED READING:

  • Get a daily email packed with the latest China-Africa news and analysis.
  • Read exclusive insights on the key trends shaping China-Africa relations.
  • Full access to the News Feed that provides daily updates on Chinese engagement in Africa and throughout the Global South.

China, Africa and the Global South... find out what’s happening.

Subscribe today for unlimited access.

OR

Already a subscriber? Log in Click Here to Learn More
by Eric Olander

Most Read

1
Developing Countries’ Debt Servicing Costs to China Are Significant, but Nowhere Near as Much as Other Creditors
2 Chinese Military Fans Discuss Why Indonesia Bought Rafale Instead of J-10C
3
China, U.S. Ink Rare Earth Deal; More Trade Pacts Coming
4
Indonesia Begins $5.9 Billion Chinese EV Battery Project Despite Environment Fears
5
Chinese Cargo Planes Secretly Ferrying Supplies to Iran, Claim Online Sleuths
6
Six Million Donkeys Slaughtered for Chinese Medicine: Charity

You Might Like

Don’t Blame Cheap Chinese Imports For Destroying Nigeria’s Textile Industry: It’s Our Fault, Say Industry Leaders

Nigeria’s once-thriving textile sector is now fast disappearing due largely to competition from Chinese imports. But don’t blame the Chinese, said Mansur Ahmed, president of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, ...

With Inventories Running Low, Businesses Across Africa Worry About What’s Next

The near-halt in aviation and shipping links between China and Africa is causing severe disruptions in the supply chain that stocks the inventories of countless businesses across the continent. Merchants of all sizes ...

China’s Transsion Holds Firm to the Top Spot in Africa’s Smartphone Market

Transsion’s dominance of the African mobile phone market remains fully intact despite last year’s major economic disruption brought on by the pandemic, according to new data released by the research ...

Chinese Automakers Are Making New Inroads Across Africa

Geely, China’s largest independent automaker, launched its new Coolray SUV in Nigeria in what’s become a big push by Chinese auto companies to expand their presence in Africa. The SUV category ...

What is The China-Global South Project?

Independent

The China-Global South Project is passionately independent, non-partisan and does not advocate for any country, company or culture.

News

A carefully curated selection of the day’s most important China-Global South stories. Updated 24 hours a day by human editors. No bots, no algorithms.

Analysis

Diverse, often unconventional insights from scholars, analysts, journalists and a variety of stakeholders in the China-Global South discourse.

Networking

A unique professional network of China-Africa scholars, analysts, journalists and other practioners from around the world.

More about CGSP