Project Materials

THE INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE TO THE OUTBREAK OF THE EBOLA CRISIS IN WEST AFRICA

Chapter One

INTRODUCTION

1.1 The Background of the Study

Since the breakout of the Ebola virus epidemic in West Africa in March 2014, some countries have taken precautions to limit the spread of the deadly infection.

According to the World Health Organisation, about 15,119 cases of Ebola have been suspected and confirmed inside West Africa alone. (WHO, 2014).

The epidemic is jeopardising the development gains made in the three most impacted countries following the restoration of peace and democracy. As of 10 December, about 18,000 people have been infected, with over 6,400 already dead.

Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone’s health services were not well prepared to combat the disease, and the epidemic has now outpaced their ability to contain it.

Some unique characteristics of the three countries have made Ebola extremely difficult to control. The scarcity of medical personnel and beds in Ebola Treatment Units, the difficulty of identifying active patients and contacts, and the slowness of the response have all contributed to the severity of this health disaster.

Doctors were unfamiliar with the condition, and because its symptoms mimicked those of other illnesses, early detection and effective prevention were sluggish to begin.

Common rituals such as community hand washing, caring for sick relatives, and cleaning and preparing dead bodies in preparation for burial all contributed to the virus’s spread.

Overly centralised health-care systems hampered local communities’ engagement, which is crucial in combating epidemics like these.

A lack of faith in the government hampered cooperation, prompting some to question the virus’s actual existence. The worldwide community is currently working to assist afflicted countries in containing the pandemic, treating the ill, and preventing future outbreaks.

There has been a visible shift in beliefs and behaviours, and many communities have taken on the duty of dealing with it, resulting in a large decrease in new instances in certain places. The world community has rushed large amounts of money, equipment, and troops to these epicentre countries.

However, the struggle is far from ended, and further resources will be required to bring it to a close. Communities must take ownership of the conflict on a local level.

Governments must lead effective, well-coordinated programs to halt the epidemic from the district level down, with assistance from the international community, which includes bilateral partners, multilateral agencies led by the United Nations Mission for Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER), and other stakeholders.

Fear has exacerbated the issue. Women are giving birth without contemporary medical attendants because they are afraid of visiting to clinics; the use of birth control has declined; HIV testing has virtually ceased, and routine checks and immunisations have come to a halt.

There may be an upsurge in preventable deaths and a comeback of a variety of disorders. Fear is also weakening social relationships, as family and communal celebrations are postponed, and even treated Ebola patients are avoided by their families and communities.

Fear is aggravating the epidemic’s impact, causing schools and businesses to close and planting and harvesting to delay. Border closures and shipping companies’ efforts to limit illness exposure are decreasing foreign trade.

Some workers are dying, others are fleeing sick locations, and quarantines and travel restrictions hinder individuals from reporting to work.

Official estimates, which are approximately compatible with econometric simulations, imply that the outbreak may reduce growth in the three countries by 3 to 6 percent this year.

Furthermore, uncertainty about the epidemic’s duration and economic consequences has halted investment, lowering the potential for future growth, even if the virus is quickly contained.