Getting to Zero: Lessons on Ebola and Global Health Security

November 20, 2018We sat down with  Oliver Johnson to find out how West Africa ' s 2014  outbreak is informing DRC ' s today.As news from the epicenter of the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)worsens, how can the lessons from the 2014-2016 West Africa Ebola outbreak help?I sat down with Dr. Oliver Johnson, coauthor ofGetting to Zero: A Doctor and a Diplomat on the Ebola Frontline, who worked on the frontlines of the West Africa outbreak, to find out. He stressed that while we ’ve learned a lot about Ebola, most of it has involved technical aspects, such as themedical innovations and treatment practices we ’re now seeing in the DRC—but we haven’t yet learned to navigate the damage caused by political complexities, which vary by country and context.We often respond to exactly what has come before, rather than being ready for the uncertain.Earlier today you said that rather than focusing on preparing for the next Ebola outbreak, we should instead be preparing for the unexpected. What does this look like in practice, and how can policy-makers act on this?We need to maintain flexibility in our systems and our responses. We often respond to exactly what has come before, rather than being ready for the uncertain. After the West Africa Ebola outbreak, organizations developed the perfect personal protective equipment (PPE) suit, and they wanted to stock these around the world. But this would reduce their flexibility and leave them unprepared if the next...
Source: IntraHealth International - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: Source Type: news