Why We Need to Keep Prevention Going for Ebola
Even though Ebola has slipped from the headlines of the news recently and the United States is not on high alert, it doesn’t mean we aren’t thinking about it. While a significant amount of time has passed with since the last outbreak, without proper precautions and up-to-date safety procedures there exists the potential for another widespread outbreak in the future. As we have said before, the problem is a weak health system.
There are still a lot of elements that need to be improved before this disease, and others like it, are able to be managed and eventually eradicated. Ebola is a tricky disease because of how it is spread.
What would RGH do to prevent it?
Our work starts with the affected population. If the community does not understand how this disease is passed from person to person, efforts to contain the outbreak will be hindered. For instance, in many of the African cultures it is customary to have one’s family prepare the body of the deceased for burial. If the person has died from Ebola, taking care of that body and preparing it for funeral services could cause the entire family to be exposed to the disease, thus leading to increased rates of infection. By using education to inform the public of this risk and teaching respectful and safe burial practices, the families are able to take precautions to prevent infection while still being able to mourn and pass on their traditions and heritage without their health being affected.
Personal protective equipment is essential for medical personnel fighting Ebola. The hot climate, coupled with a scarcity of electricity and air conditioning, means that doctors and nurses wear the protective suits for only 20 minutes at a time. Constantly changing in and out of the protective gear could increase their risk of exposure, if safety protocols are not consistently followed. RGH experts help medical personnel follow procedures consistently, stay safe and deliver quality care. In addition, we help our clients design new health facilities and adapt old ones that allow for air conditioning at least in isolation areas.
All of these strategies not only help with the efforts to combat Ebola, but are effective methods for dealing with other public health issues facing developing countries such as malaria, HIV/AIDS, and infant mortality. These countries are in need of access to proper systems, equipment, and facilities before another outbreak of any disease happens. In order for a health system to be effective, all of these elements need to be in place before the next crisis occurs.
WWRGHD is a new blog series from RGH where we look at events in the news and share our take on what could be done, or done differently, to improve universal coverage to healthcare in the United States and around the world.
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