Africa’s Response to COVID-19 Pandemic and Guiding Ethical Principles

Authors

  • Workineh Kelbessa Professor, Department of Philosophy, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.62865/bjbio.v13i2.39

Keywords:

Africa, COVID-19, coronavirus, ethical principles, ubuntu ethics

Abstract

This paper explores Africa’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and some ethical principles that can be used to address the problem of COVID-19. The COVID-19 pandemic affects all human beings in the world, but not equally. Developing countries are more vulnerable to the COVID-19 crisis. Humanity should act collectively to deal with this crisis. It should search for both indigenous and modern medicines to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Besides science and technology, humanity should adopt ethical principles, such as the precautionary principle, solidarity, principles of respect for persons, beneficence, nonmaleficence, reciprocity, justice, proportionality, accountability, transparency, and communalism to effectively combat COVID-19. This paper further suggests that pharmaceutical companies should prioritize the well-being of the people, rather than trying to make unnecessary and unreasonable profits in the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Downloads

Published

2022-07-01

How to Cite

1.
Kelbessa W. Africa’s Response to COVID-19 Pandemic and Guiding Ethical Principles. BJBio [Internet]. 2022 Jul. 1 [cited 2025 Feb. 9];13(2):7-23. Available from: https://bjbio.bioethics.org.bd/index.php/BJBio/article/view/39