title: Ebola virus disease epidemic in West Africa: lessons learned and issues arising from West African countries.
abstract: The current Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak ravaging three nations in West Africa has affected more than 14,000 persons and killed over 5,000. It is the longest and most widely spread Ebola epidemic ever seen. At the time of this overview (written November 2014), having affected eight different nations, Nigeria and Senegal were able to control and eliminate the virus within a record time. Ghana has successfully, to date, kept the virus away from the country, despite economic and social relationships with affected nations. What lessons can we learn from Nigeria, Senegal and Ghana in the current epidemic? How can the world improve the health systems in low- and middle-income countries to effectively manage future outbreaks? Recently, the Royal College of Physicians launched a new partnership with the West African College of Physicians to curtail the effects of HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis in the region. We believe that strengthened health systems, skilled human resources for health and national ownership of problems are key to effective management of outbreaks such as EVD.
authors: Excellence and Friends, Management Care Centre, Abuja, Nigeria obinna.oleribe@expertmanagers.org.
authors: Obinna O
authors: OO
authors: Oleribe
authors: WACP/RCP M-PACT Project (Nigeria), Provost College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
authors: Babatunde L
authors: BL
authors: Salako
authors: WACP/RCP M-PACT Project (Senegal)/Centre, Hospitalier Regional de Thies et UFR des Sciences de la Santé, de l'Université de Thies, Senegal.
authors: M Mourtalla
authors: MM
authors: Ka
authors: WACP/RCP M-PACT Project (Ghana), Department of Medicine, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana.
authors: Albert
authors: A
authors: Akpalu
authors: International Office, Royal College of Physicians, London, UK.
authors: Mairi
authors: M
authors: McConnochie
authors: International Office, Royal College of Physicians, London, UK.
authors: Matthew
authors: M
authors: Foster
authors: Royal College of Physicians, London, UK.
authors: Simon D
authors: SD
authors: Taylor-Robinson
mesh_terms: D000354:Africa, Western / Q000453:epidemiology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019142:Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D011634:Public Health; D011635:Public Health Administration
keywords: Ebola; Ghana; Nigeria; Senegal; West Africa
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