Managing a Security Response to the Ebola Epidemic in Liberia Case Study Help
The Ebola epidemic is a serious problem in Liberia, and the World Health Organization is attempting to address the situation. As part of this effort, the Government of Liberia has developed a strategic plan to protect the country from the spread of the disease. However, it is still unclear how the government can implement a security response to the outbreak. This article examines this issue, discussing a case study that shows how to use a PESTLE Analysis to formulate a strategy and recommendations for implementing the plan.
Problem Statement
An Ebola outbreak in West Africa demonstrated the need for international coordination in a severe public health crisis. A large number of international medical teams were deployed in the region, including the African Union. However, the global response to this disease was hampered by a lack of coordination.
As a result, many cases of Ebola escaped conventional control measures. The virus spread rapidly in a way that evaded detection, and a major contributing factor was the amplification of infections in health care facilities.
In addition, the speed of the Ebola epidemic highlighted a need for urgent action. Furthermore, the virus spread more effectively in countries with weak and poorly developed health systems.
The outbreak showed the importance of social mobilization. Communities were resistant to the traditional measures that governments enacted, such as contact tracing and burials. These efforts failed to provide the protective benefits of a robust health system.
However, this was not a new phenomenon in Ebola-affected countries. It was a symptom of a weakened health system that is struggling to cope with the demand for services.
Community resistance to the measures was a function of mistrust of government and ETUs. Some communities attempted to hide the bodies of deceased people. Others abandoned villages due to fear of spreading the virus.
The rumored Ebola "weapon" was a false story circulated during the epidemic. Meanwhile, a small but significant number of health care workers infected with the disease acquired the infection in their community.
Case Study Solution
The Ebola outbreak was a severe public health crisis that required coordinated international support. It affected three countries in West Africa - Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia. These countries had little experience with this disease.
The scale of the response was unprecedented. There was a need for new partnerships among humanitarian actors. A consortium of five organizations was established to support the government and county health teams in Liberia. Each organization had specific skills and expertise. In addition to providing assistance to individual health facilities, they also helped streamline coordination.
However, the international community's capacity to respond to the Ebola outbreak was inadequate. During the early stages, many people with disabilities were excluded from the response. They were also subject to discrimination.
Discrimination is a problem at all stages of the epidemic. People with disabilities are disadvantaged by a range of factors, including stigma, limited charitable resources and the absence of disability-specific training.
The lack of deliberate inclusion efforts also contributed to pre-existing inequalities. Many people with disabilities were unable to work and often relied on charity. This weakened their ability to recover.
A third of the new cases were suspected contacts of confirmed cases, and two-thirds of these contacts were never followed up by surveillance teams. This increased social justice issues.
In order to effectively control the outbreak, governments needed to engage the community. In addition, they needed to address the disease's transmission.
Porters Five Forces
The Ebola epidemic in West Africa was a major public health emergency. It affected three countries and spread to seven additional countries. Over the past six months, nearly 3,000 people have been killed.
Unlike previous outbreaks, Ebola's rapid spread was not limited to urban areas. This made control efforts challenging in areas where it could not be easily detected. In addition, the disease was able to evade conventional control measures.
While this outbreak is over, it does show that current responses to disease outbreaks are insufficient. Countries in West Africa still need to improve their systems for detecting infectious disease threats. However, they also need to strengthen international surge capacity.
For example, in the current outbreaks, a large number of infections among health care workers was a result of poor infection control. Other factors that played a role in the outbreak included sociodemographic factors. High mobility and intermixing of populations, as well as the ease of travel across borders, contributed to the spread of the virus.
CDC and other partners worked to develop effective infection control and surveillance. These efforts helped to contain a large outbreak. They also improved laboratory systems and information management systems. CDC field teams traveled to communities and worked with local teams to detect and monitor the spread of the disease.
International response teams also focused on contact tracing and identification of Ebola symptoms. In addition, they engaged with community leaders.
PESTLE Analysis
The recent outbreak of the Ebola virus in Africa has caused a lot of concern. It is important to identify the most effective and appropriate security measures that can help the countries affected by the epidemic to overcome the disease. However, it is also important to look at the broader picture and not only focus on the security aspects.
For example, the Liberian government made a number of decisions that failed to contain the Ebola outbreak. In the end, the disease killed almost a thousand people in August. This was not because the virus was contagious, but because the country did not have the capacity to prevent it.
The most effective response was the mobilisation of communities. These were spearheaded by the government and local non-governmental organizations. Some communities refused to accept patients and attacked public health workers, a move that only increased the outbreak.
The Liberian government imposed restrictions on freedom of movement, including a curfew, and curtailed the fundamental rights of citizens. They also quarantined communities suspected of harboring Ebola patients. Despite this, many Liberians resorted to traditional healing methods and continued their usual burial rites.
The international community focused on security measures, particularly the military. Yet, there were some positives to the response, such as the introduction of a state of emergency in the country. Moreover, an executive order was issued to boost the government's efforts to contain the disease.
Financial Analysis
A security response to the Ebola epidemic in Liberia was a multi-sectoral endeavor. In the early stages, international actors came on board, releasing resources that were needed in the country. This was followed by a domestic response plan. These efforts were focused on coordinating international partners, developing standard operating procedures, and securing additional funds.
The Government of Liberia (GOL) initiated social mobilization activities to combat the outbreak. GOL also stepped up its efforts to remove dead bodies from streets. Community engagement was important to reduce the burden of international aid. It appeared that community participation changed attitudes towards EVD.
Early interventions included social mobilization, data management, and the opening of a laboratory. But the virus's spread was difficult to contain. After a few months, the outbreak was out of control.
The epidemic spread to Monrovia, Liberia's capital. President Sirleaf declared a state of emergency in July. To strengthen the response, she furloughed non-essential government staff and closed the country's land borders. She hoped to defeat the epidemic by Christmas.
During this time, the World Bank approved US$105 million in funding for West Africa. President Obama committed US$319 million for a response plan. He also announced that US$6 billion was needed for the country's domestic response.
At the same time, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Ebola outbreak as a 'Public Health Emergency of International Concern.' Initially, the epidemic was limited to the rural areas. However, the government was unable to attract enough healthcare workers.
Recommendations
Ebola virus disease (EVD) ravaged West Africa in 2014 and 2015. It reached densely populated capitals in three countries. The disease was spreading unchecked. This prompted intense national media attention and triggered an alarming public response.
Several factors contributed to the spread of EVD in Liberia. These included the country's high poverty levels, a weak health system, and poor infrastructure. Additionally, sociodemographic factors such as intermixing of populations and the ease of travel across borders were also important.
Despite the outbreak's impact on Liberia, the epidemic was relatively well controlled in the short term. However, insufficient disease reporting hampered control efforts in hard-to-reach areas. Consequently, CDC worked closely with the Ministry of Health (MoH) in planning the epidemic's surveillance and response.
During the outbreak's early phase, a task force led by the president was created. However, it was handicapped by its large size and inability to communicate effectively with partners in the country's 15 counties. Moreover, the task force meetings did not filter down to the health team.
After the epidemic's early phase ended, a new tactical approach was implemented to combat the virus. New tools were based on the rapid diagnosis and isolation of patients. Furthermore, an airport exit screening program was developed to screen passengers before commercial flights.
Thousands of community health volunteers were trained to deliver health messages. In addition, mobile phones were provided to traditional chiefs, allowing them to call county health officials.
Managing 0a Security Response to the Ebola Epidemic in Liberia
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