The World Health Organization says deaths from COVID-19 in Africa have surged by 40% in the last month, pushing Africa’s death toll towards 100 000 since the first reported case on the continent on 14 February 2020. 

This comes as Africa battles new, more contagious variants and gears up for it's largest-ever vaccination drive.

According to the agency, over 22 300 deaths were reported in Africa in the last 28 days, compared with nearly 16 000 deaths in the previous 28 days.

It adds that the continent is expected to reach 100 000 deaths in the coming days. 

Abdullahi Hassan reports.