INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE TO EBOLA WANTING

The deadliest outbreak of Ebola virus on record is causing havoc in five African countries namely Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Nigeria. In March 2014, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported a major Ebola outbreak in Guinea. The highly infectious disease has since spread to catastrophic levels and taken an International dimension. WHO has declared the epidemic to be an international public health emergency but the international community has been slow to react and seemed indifferent to the plight of the affected countries.

According to the WHO, the countries affected to date simply do not have the capacity to manage an outbreak of this magnitude and complexity on their own. Apart from the human cost, the outbreak has severely battered the economies of the affected countries. Initially, many countries dealt with the fear of infectivity by isolating themselves from West Africa, closing their borders, canceling airline services and pulling ships back from West African ports. This has only worsened the situation leading to economic and social unrest.

The complexity of the situation and the danger that the disease poses to global health has led the WHO to urge for “drastic action” to contain Ebola. The slow response from the International community, especially the developed countries has allowed the epidemic to spread sparking fears that the killer virus could spread from West Africa to other regions and continents. It has been acknowledged that Ebola is just a plane ride away and therefore, no country is completely safe. Patrick Sawyer, a naturalized American citizen who worked in Liberia, flew to Nigeria intending to attend a conference. After exhibiting symptoms upon arrival July 20, he was hospitalized and died on July 25.Two other U.S. aid workers in Liberia have contracted Ebola and have been treated.

The United Nations has said that controlling the epidemic will require the world to increase its efforts twentyfold and to spend $1 billion in the next six months. Tim Shenk, a spokesman for the humanitarian group Doctors without Borders, emphasized that the actions of the U.S. government will determine whether the growing epidemic can be contained.  As the largest economy in the world, it was expected that the U.S would play a leading role and lead international response to the Ebola outbreak. However, it is China that has appeared proactive and quick to act.

China, the second largest economy responded to the epidemic with unprecedented generosity The Chinese president was the first to send condolences to the heads of state of the affected countries. Additionally, China dispatched three teams of infectious disease experts to assist local medical professionals and sent $5 million worth of medical supplies to the three most affected countries (Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Guinea). President Xi Jinping announced that China would provide an additional $32 million worth of humanitarian aid to boost  already existing efforts to combat the epidemic. And last week, a 59-member Chinese laboratory team departed for Sierra Leone to help the country improve lab testing capacity, joining the 115 Chinese medical staff that are already on the ground. 

As the world’s second-largest economy, China has taken the burden of responding to the Ebola crisis and has showed concern and commitment not seen from any other country on the globe. Over the past month, China has contributed food, medical supplies and cash to help African countries and aid organizations combat the disease. China has also pledged to donate $2 million to the WHO and $2 million to the African Union to aid their Ebola response efforts. But it is still a developing nation, with poorer per capita than the United States, Japan or European Union countries. The WHO has described China’s new commitment as “a huge boost, morally and operationally.”

Therefore, the Chinese role in helping African countries fight Ebola should not be downplayed.  China was dispatching more health personnel as aid groups from the United States, Europe, and Japan were evacuating their own in droves. Despite their lack of experience in handling Ebola cases, Chinese doctors and volunteers seem eager to offer assiatance regarding the disease. For Africa, this is the time when we need our friends and neighbors. An African proverb states that “When your neighbour’s house catches fire, you don’t wait for it to spread to your house for you to act, but quickly join in containing the fire.

To other African countries, our neighbour’s house is on fire and we cannot sit and wait for China and the developed world to act as we sit and watch. Many countries in Africa are still at risk and therefore we must join hands and combat Ebola together. The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified Kenya as a "high-risk" country for the spread of the deadly Ebola virus. Kenya is vulnerable because is a major transport hub, with many flights from West Africa. Instead of isolating ourselves, let us emulate China and support our African brothers in distress.