The Importance of Community Engagement in Eradication of The Ebola Virus

Introduction

The importance of community engagement is the key statement for the essay in which the topic of Ebola virus is discussed. The first case of Ebola virus Disease (EVD) is identified as one of the most virulent disease with a case fatality rate up to 90%. It has been appeared in South Sudan and number of deaths has been occurred throughout the African continent. Ebola virus is introduces to the human from wild animals including gorillas, fruit bats and monkeys etc. Their close contaminated blood, other body fluids and secretions affect the human immunity and finally it spreads through human to human transmission. For instance, blood or body fluid, Objects (clothes, bedding), Semen from a man who recovered from EVD cause the spreading of the disease. As a result of high prevalence of EVD within a short period of time, in 2014, The World Health Organization (WHO) announced that EVD as the “Public Health Emergency of International Concern”. It increased the demand for more human resources such as health professional, volunteers and other emergency aids.

However, it took three years to control the virus. The outbreak concluded with 11,310 deaths, 28,616 diagnosed cases and 23, 588 children loss one or both their parents. Finally the region was free from the virus but, there is a chance of future outbreak. Therefore, it is essential to take necessary precautions and preparedness to prevent from future occurrence. It is remarkable to see how a deadly virus can take thousands of lives and affect the whole world within a short period of time. Numerous research articles have explained that a successful mission include the community involvement, consultation, participation, organisation, capacity building, action and empowerment. This report will further illustrate the building of community engagement and mobilization strategies for an emergency response plan to prevent from Ebola virus.

Community Engagement and Mobilization Strategy for an Emergency Response Plan

According to Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Ebola virus is known as fatal haemorrhagic fever which is first diagnosed in 1976 in Africa. In 2014 – 2016, the virus spread began to attack rural setting of south eastern Guinea and rapidly spread to urban areas within weeks and finally became a global epidemic within months. When an outbreak occurs in community beyond initial projection, there will be limitation and clinical approaches in weak local system. Consequently, it increases the pressure and fear of the community that it is difficult to eradicate the Ebola virus.

Many healthcare professionals considered community engagement as one of the best solutions for pandemic situations. Not only that, it demonstrated significant improvement and deduction of number of cases in the community. Sustainable community engagement and communication with the community help to build the trust and confidence of the actions for Ebola response. Additionally, it essential to provide education related to Ebola virus especially in developing countries. That information helps to build the confidence and effective social mobilisation. Moreover, when an emergency situation occurs, social mobilisation and community involvement is considered as “cluster system”. Social mobilisation and community engagement coordinates effort and design a strategy to focus on key components such as measuring and reporting on key performance indicators.

Engagement

The community needs to participate actively to drive Ebola cases down to zero. People live in complicated society with different social status and educational background. Also own understanding of the surrounding might be limited. According to World health Organisation (WHO), community engagement is highlighted as one of the successful factor of all control measures. Professionals and communities learn from each other in the community involvement which in known as two-way process.

Right leaders are essential part of the community engagement. Therefore is it crucial to include respective leaders. Different stakeholders should be involved in the community engagement including government, traditional leaders, community influencers, school teachers or youth group community health care workers, mass media and non-governmental organizations. The main intention of having strong stakeholder represents the trust and respect from the community. Furthermore, there is a higher chance that the program will be recognised by a large population and eventually the effort will be successful.

Consultation

Consulting the program is the second step where the program should be discuss in depth with participants and stakeholders. It has been identified that providing adequate knowledge to the public healthcare professionals is an essential step. They should be educated new treatment methods and different approaches to educate community. On the other hand, participant also should be well informed about the disease conditions and preventative methods. Participant will be involved in the planning of the program. Evidences have been proven that local stakeholders are helpful to bring the effective management plan since they are aware about social, ethical, cultural and environmental factors of that specific geographical area. Furthermore, there are different areas to be considered when conducting an emergency response plan. Supportive and sustainable team work is a key strengthen of the program. Different social accountability tools and coordination methods facilitate the community engagement rather than just sharing information.

Participation and Organisation

When target group has been clearly identified, it is the time for community based meetings. All the gathering should be held in common place where everyone can attend and it should be followed according to a timetable. Different kind of actions can be done in community meetings. 

• Explain the causes, symptoms and prevention methods and reduce confusions
• Encourage individual care and provide resources
• Address myths, misconceptions and provide correct information
• Build the trust in the community
• Work as a community platform where people can clarify their doubts
• Identify community concerns, health condition and their contribution to the society.

Furthermore, community meetings are helpful to identify the readiness of the community to implement and evaluate necessary prevention methods. For instance, after explaining the importance of Ebola vaccine, it should be easily accessible in the community as an implementation. During these meetings, health professional can educate participants about protocol and emergency actions.

Capacity Building

Capacity building define as the as the process of developing strengthen and sustainability in the organization. In other word, it measures the improvement and ability to fulfil the target to simple on survival. Capacity building is essential part to maintain the health and well-being of society. Organisational infrastructure is a key aspect of capacity building which includes the location of the workplace and equipment etc. Staff capacity contributes the education and professional development of the program. However, there are numerous factors that contribute to enhance the capacity building. 

• Capacity building pays attentions to the nature of the society on order to make strategic plans
• Identify the capacity of the workforce
• Availability of medicine
• Understand how people and communities consume services

Action

When identifying the level of capacity and strengthen, action plan should be conducted. According to CDC, there are various preventative measures have been planned to implement in order to control further occurrence of the disease.

• Proper and hygiene – Follow proper hand washing techniques
• Protective handling methods for items from effected person. (personal protective equipment (PPE) – It includes goggles, apron, gloves and mask etc which help to protect everyone from speeding.
• Discard PPE in a proper manner – Follow all disposable colour coding.
• Avoid contact with body fluids.
• Avoid travelling – it prevent from spreading across the border.
• Engage in community activities related to Ebola virus prevention

Empowerment

Empowerment is defined as when communities are empowered to take actions towards the situation for themselves and meaningful changes. The empowerment is aimed to reaching communities with increasing the awareness and knowledge on Ebla transmission, prevention methods, treatment and safe practices. Ordinary people from the community can be more powerful and they can be able to control their health with the empowerment. Additionally, communities can report early diagnosis of signs and symptoms. This can be achieved by number of actions including partnership, capacity building, gathering relevant information and networking. Empowering the local community to create an emergency plan against Ebola virus is the important process of empowerment.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Ebola virus is considered as one of the deadliest virus that can spread quickly. Infected person’s body fluids are highly contagious According to statistic; Ebola virus has taken many lives of innocent people. In 2014, EVD in announced as Public Health Emergency of International Concern. This report illustrated about the emergency response plan during Ebola pandemic. It has been identified that preparedness of local community is the greatest way to prevent spread and contamination from the fatal virus. Emergency infection outbreak plane consists of different subareas including engagement, consultation, participation, organisation, capacity building, action and empowerment. This importance of community engagement essay further explained the importance of community engagement to eradicate the Ebola virus. Moreover, infection control methods are recommended and it must be practice in the community to minimise the risk. Many research articles describes that respective leaders can manage the community from these type of tragic event without facing any drastic consequences.