Ebola outbreak exposed WHO’s organizational failings, experts report

In August 2014, the WHO declared it a public health emergency of worldwide concern. A press release recalled scenes from the worst of the crisis, including “gates locked at overflowing treatment centers, patients dying on the hospital grounds”, before extolling various parties in the hard-earned victory over Ebola. Elsewhere, it listed factors that “contributed to the success of Liberia’s Ebola response”, including “strong coordination of the worldwide and national response”, even as it acknowledged that “international support was slow to start, but abundant when it arrived”.

An advisory panel selected to assess the response of the World Health Organization (WHO) to the Ebola outbreak blamed the agency’s politics and rigid culture for the poor response to the epidemic.

She described the report as a “defining moment for global health security”. Some have argued for replacing the WHO, but the panel said it must still take the lead in world health disasters.

“WHO is already moving forward on some of the panel’s recommendations including the development of the global health emergency workforce and the contingency fund to ensure the necessary resources are available to mount an initial response”, he added.

The experts also stressed that the 2005 global Health Regulations, agreed by 196 WHO member countries to try to track and control the spread of disease, must be strengthened and properly implemented to allow proper handling of epidemics. These and other measures “significantly interfered with global travel, causing negative political, economic and social consequences for the affected countries”, the report said.

According to the report, WHO “does not now possess the capacity or organisational culture to deliver a full emergency public health response”.

Health workers carry the body of an Ebola victim for burial at a cemetery in Freetown December 17, 2014. The whole humanitarian system lacked foresight, she said.

“Either these did not reach senior leaders or senior leaders did not recognize their significance”, the panel wrote.

The Chief Executive said: “Madam Ambassador, I can not say enough for the strong personal role you have played in strengthening the special relationship between our two countries, and the manner in which you coordinated the assistance rendered our country during the Ebola crisis“.

Kieny said it was too soon to say how the three new cases in Liberia – one of whom has died – became infected. For a considerable number of days now, most districts including the Western Area have been constantly recording zero cases with only Kambia and Portloko registering an infinitesimal number of cases sporadically.

Stated the World Health Organization: “The investigation revealed that close to 200 people had been in contact with the young man while he had symptoms of Ebola and these people are now being closely monitored”.

Following the death of Abraham his friend Friday Nyanfor, 27, who lives few meters away from his deceased friend house also tested positive.