Assessing WHO's Effectiveness in Handling the Ebola Outbreak

This case study analyzes the World Health Organization's (WHO) handling of the Ebola outbreak, which originated from wild animals and spread through human populations, particularly in West Africa. The study uses the ASK SIR L model to assess the problem-solving process and identifies key issues such as weak healthcare systems, damaged public health infrastructure, high population mobility, shortage of healthcare workers, cultural beliefs, and reliance on traditional healers. It highlights the challenges faced by WHO, including community resistance and strikes by healthcare workers, while also acknowledging the support provided through medical teams and equipment. The research emphasizes the need for better integration and preparedness in future emergency responses to prevent the repetition of similar issues.

WHO's handling of Ebola

INTRODUCTION
 Ebola is a virus disease which is transmitting to people from wild animals and then spread in
human population via different sources.
 When Ebola outbreak in West Africa before two years ago, WHO and other health care
organizations have come together to reduce the impact of this on human being (Boyles, 2015).
 The major reason of spreading this disease in different countries are very weak health systems,
lack of human resources, damaged infrastructural, lack of health care facilities etc.
 The following research has related to the role of WHO in tackling Ebola diseases (Wong and
Uyeki, 2015).
 During the phase of spreading of this infection in West Africa local community, WHO has faced
different kinds of issues.

Patch work 1: 1. Application of ASK SIR L model so as to assess the cover the whole problem
solving process
 A: Appreciate a problem exists: When there was outbreak of Ebola in 2014, then the world as
well as WHO was not well prepared for mounting the response that had taken place on such a
large scale
 S: Specify its nature and scope: The virus was first identified in the year 1976 when there were
2 simultaneous outbreaks in Yambuku and remote area of Sudan. The current outbreak took
place in West Africa in the period of March 2014. The severely affected nations included
Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone that were impacted hydraulic due to weak health systems, as
well as lack of human and infrastructural resources

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 S: Solutions generation and selection: The support came out massive through a
provision of experts and medical team that rushed to the concerned places with there
equipment and supplies
 I: Implementation of chosen programmes: The outbreak was brought under control
through a wide network of medical evacuation and logistics teams that were imbibed
with the skills for rebuilding damaged hospitals.

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 R: Review whether the problem was solved: The current Ebola outbreak is still
present in Africa and improvisations are being made so as to respond towards the
disease in a better manner
 L: Learn how to avoid repetition: WHO has agreed that it should be better integrated
so as to tackle the future emergency responses.

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Patch work 2: 2. How well were the underlying issues and causes identified by the
organization?
 The first issue in this context faced by WHO is weak health care system of the country.
 Another issue faced by WHO during deal with Ebola was damaged public health infrastructure.
 High population mobility across porous boarders is another issue and cause which identified by
WHO during Ebola disease treatment.
 Several shortage of healthcare workers is another issues and cause faced by WHO during
breakdown of Ebola in West Africa.
 The cultural beliefs and behavioural practices of local community of West Africa has also
created the issue for WHO during dealing with breakdown of Ebola.
 WHO has faced another issues that is reliance on traditional healers of local people of West
Africa
 Community resistance within West Africa as well as strikes by health care workers has created
the issue for WHO in deliver treatments

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