Over 392,287 cases of COVID-19 have been reported worldwide as of March 23 2020 including in 43 African countries. Patients in countries with limited preparedness and response resources are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19. Sharp increases in COVID19 caseloads may overwhelm health systems in countries already facing shortages of nurses, physicians and other health workers. In some cases, health workforce availability is less than 10% of what is estimated to be needed to deliver essential primary health care services. Strategies to rapidly expand healthcare teams and to develop innovative ways to deliver preventive, diagnostic and management services for COVID-19 are therefore urgently needed. Read HERE the update on COVID-19 from PHM-East and Southern countries circles - Uganda, South Africa, Kenya and Zambia.