Royal African Society - The West Africa Ebola Outbreak: Gaps in Governance and Accountability

Thousands of lives have been claimed in the West African Ebola outbreak since the World Health Organisation (WHO) was first notified of the outbreak in Guinea in March 2014. The epidemic is expected to spread rapidly over months to come. The three countries most affected by the crisis, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea, are post-conflict states with weak health infrastructures. In a climate of fear and mistrust of government institutions, health workers face huge challenges in raising awareness and educating communities. The crisis has not only highlighted the deficiencies in the capabilities of these West African governments, but those of the international community. The World Health Organisation’s emergency response mechanisms, which have experienced budget cuts over recent years, have shown they are largely inadequate in the face of international health crises. Speakers: - Dr Kandeh K. Yumkella, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and CEO, Sustainable Energy for All - Professor Peter Piot, Director of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine - Major General Michael von Bertele, Humanitarian Director at Save the Children International - Robtel Neajai Pailey, Liberian writer and PhD researcher at SOAS. Chair: Dr Titi Banjoko, healthcare professional & RAS Council Member Recorded at SOAS, University of London on 8th October 2014.