An outbreak of Ebola west Africa has never seen
The current Ebola outbreak in the western region of Africa is “completely out of control”, according to the National Institute of Health.1 The epidemic has warranted the assistance of a vast number of foreign health and humanitarian organizations. Impact Global Health Alliance Global is at the forefront to help combat the spread of the virus. Many organizations have strived to raise awareness to educate people on identifying the virus and provide direct care to patients by mobilizing health workers.
It takes more than will to help – Understanding local context is paramount to success
| “Mobilizing trusted community workers will be key to containing the epidemic”
-Tara Perti of the CDC |
Superstitions and the distrust of outsiders have led to conflict as many new aid groups enter the area. Helpful as this might sounds, tensions have occurred between locals and aid workers. In some cases, local people have turned to violence and protest against outsiders and health workers from many of the new organizations in the area. Due to more than 6 years of working with 120 communities within Nimba County, Impact Global Health Alliance Global is encountering substantially less opposition from the people than other aid groups. Our continued support has engendered close relationships with the communities in which we work. Thus, making Impact Global Health Alliance Global a driving force in the fight against Ebola in Nimba County, Liberia – the country hardest hit by the virus.
Violence in the midst of mistrust arising from suspicion
| “…people are shutting themselves off from foreigners, thinking that they are transporters of the virus rather than the curers.” |
Violence is proving to be one of the largest setbacks for those trying to give aid in the region. In September, a team of journalists and health workers from the Red Cross was found in the latrine of a village near Nzérékoré, Guinea with their throats cut.2 Despite having been successfully working in the region, a group of villagers brutally attacked and killed them.
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Violence of this nature can be attributed to mistrust and communication barriers, something Impact Global Health Alliance Global has been able to tackle because of our experience and longtime presence in the region. The local people often do not trust foreigners wearing intimidating white suits who quarantine their villages. Locals perceive them as taking away their family members, dead or alive. In fact, they think that foreigners are the transporters of the virus rather than the curers. It is this mistrust is hindering progress, with people shutting themselves off from foreigners.
Impact Global Health Alliance has gained local trust and had success based on CBIO
Impact Global Health Alliance Global has had great success in gaining access and implementing behavior change health care practices to Ebola-hit communities where other aid groups have not. The CBIO criteria prioritizes trust among the community by emphasizing what are known as RSHVs (Routine Systematic Home Visitations). The RSHVs are, as the name entails, visits to the homes of the people where present health issues are evaluated and trust can be built home by home. Tara Perti of the CDC notes “mobilizing trusted community workers will be key to containing the epidemic”, and Impact Global Health Alliance Global is already turning this key.3
Help us reach our $14,000 goal to fund the purchase of supplies, medicines and informational outreach in Nimba County. Donate now
Author: Andrew Zavaleta, Impact Global Health Alliance Global Intern
1Kloc, Joe. “NIH: Ebola Outbreak is ‘Completely Out of Control’”. Newsweek, 4 September 2014. Web. 30 Sep. 2014.
2Boubacar, Diallo, and Sarah DiLorenzo. “Red Cross Team Attacked While Burying Ebola Dead”. abcnews , 24 September 2014. Web. 30 Sep. 2014.
3Richter, Ruthann. “Rebuilding trust key to fighting Ebola in Africa”. Stanford Medicine News Center, 24 September 2014. Web. 30 Sep. 2014.
