Browsing by Author "Isatta Wurie"

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    Ebola Outbreaks Public Health Emergencies in Fragile Conflicts Zones and Displaced Populations in Africa
    (International Journal of TROPICAL DISEASE & Health, 2017-10-11) Ernest Tambo; Oluwasogo A. Olalubi; Chryseis F. Chengho; Isatta Wurie; Jeannetta K. Jonhson; Marcel Fogang; Jeanne Y. Ngogang
    Little is documented on conflict and displacement impact on West Africa Ebola Virus disease (EVD) outbreaks. The paper revisits Ebola outbreaks public health emergencies in fragile conflict zones and displaced populations across Africa. Findings showed that the duration of conflict/war events varied one to forty three years. Notably, Darfur war in Sudan and South Sudan lasted between 18- 23 years, RD Congo and Guinea incessant political and ethnical or mining conflict instability repeatedly ranging between 2-6 years, Liberia and Sierra Leone 5 and 12 years conflict/war events associated Ebola outbreaks were documented following seven and four years of conflicts from 1989-1996 and 1999-2003 prior to a democracy nation era in Liberia respectively. Worldwide, there have been 28,639 cases of Ebola virus disease and 11,316 deaths as at December, 2016 compared to recent Zika virus outbreaks in Latin America. Ebola outbreak public health emergencies advocacy, community social mobilization and engagement, Ebola awareness, effective and culturally dignified communications, social media and mass media risk communication, community literacy and preparedness, emergency response engagement and participation, access and deployment of digital technology applications (Health map) in surveillance, tracking and monitoring and key traditional burial practice behaviours changes were being translated into positive successes and benefits that geared rapid and effective prevention of further spread and containment activities of West Africa Ebola outbreak. Inter-humanitarian organizations, institutions and other stakeholders including government cooperation and coordinated leadership, commitment and investment were laudable in supporting accountability and transparency in the overall objectives of public health emergency preparedness planning, care management systems in Ebola outbreak centres, public awareness, epidemic early detection and rapid response as well as effective immunization programs implementation to outwit Ebola virus. Sierra Leone conflict lasted from 1991-2002, Guinea recorded frequent relentless instability than Liberia with two major conflict periods from 1989-1996 and 1999-2003. For the first time, we established a statistical significant correlation between duration of war/conflict events and Ebola outbreaks onsets in Africa (P<0.05).Unexpectedly; the total fatality rate in Liberia or Sierra Leone only was greater than the previously reported cumulative EVD cases across Africa since 1976. It is crucial to intensify advocacy on conflicts/wars resolutions to disaster risk reduction framework evidence practice implementation of peace building in fostering health and socioeconomic development and growth. Authors call for the urgent need for concerned commitment and engagement of all stakeholders to develop, implement and strengthening local, national, regional and global public health emergencies evidence practice approaches and strategies including national public health disaster emergency situations insurance models and schemes integration is paramount in disaster high risk prone settings and particular in Africa.
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    Effectiveness of non-conventional humanitarian responses on Ebola outbreak crisis in West Africa
    (J Pharmacovigilance, 2015) Michel Talla; Ugwu E Chidiebere; Oluwasogo A Olalubi; Isatta Wurie; Jeannetta K Jonhson; Jeane Y Ngogang; Ernest Tambo
    Background: The significance of early warning alert, preparedness, public health surveillance and response systems, has been shown through the most deadly Ebola outbreak, complex ever seen Ebola war in West African communities as new cases is increasing exponentially with high risk of exposure of population and medical staff alike. The late humanitarian and local non-government organisations emergency responses and challenges to curtail transmission dynamics and stop the ongoing spread in the Ebola outbreak in West Africa have led to an unprecedented toll of 21,724 reported Ebola cases in eight countries since the outbreak began, with 8,641 reported deaths including 828 health-care workers and 499 died as 14 January 2015. Methods: Non-conventional humanitarian interventions (NCHI) was declared in West Africa Ebola epicenters with major tasks at implementing relief logistics and the much-needed public health emergency responses and programmes to ultimately reduce and stamp out Ebola outbreak amidst the most remote and hard to reach vulnerable populations. Results & Discussions: Indications have prompted the need of further evaluation of monitoring of the effectiveness of non conventional humanitarian interventions during and post Ebola outbreak crisis. This paper showed that NCHI has significantly support the reduction EVD new proportion of cases and drastically reduce case fatality in the context of Ebola epicentres through Ebola health centres building, mobile laboratory facilities, emergency medical evacuation capability, prompt treatment and care support and services delivery, and infection prevention and control quality assurance checks in these countries. At the same time, exhaustive NCHI efforts targeted ensuring timely and sufficient optimal supply personal protective equipment (PPE), building new Ebola emergency care centers and emergency stockpile supply and delivery and set strategic coordinated priorities to all Ebola treatment facilities, along with the provision of local training and empowerment using relevant guidelines to limit to the minimum possible level of risk and aftermath within the context of national sovereignty, peace and security. The paper highlights the effectiveness of NCHI in population in public health crisis and mitigates on medical, ethics and legal challenges in West Africa emergency responses. Conclusion: NCHI has successful supported operational containment efforts and lessons learnt in West Africa and lay foundation for accountable, transparent and innovative model for emergency response to global disease outbreaks in the most remote vulnerable populations. However, there lies a critical need to build up from the NCHI response and management in West Africa toward a more pragmatic and robust evidence based NCHI approaches and models that can transform and empower the huge natural and human resource potentials towards achieving universal coverage, the 2015–2030 Millennium Developing Goals (MDGs), sustainable growth and development in Africa and worldwide economic prosperity
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    Fostering prevention and care delivery services capability on HIV pandemic and Ebola outbreak symbiosis in Africa
    (J Infect Dev Ctries, 2016) Ernest Tambo; Clarence S Yah; Chidiebere E Ugwu; Oluwasogo A Olalubi; Isatta Wurie; Jeannetta K Jonhson; Jeanne Y Ngogang
    Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the re-emerging Ebola virus disease (EVD) are closely intertwined and remain a persistent public health threat and global challenge. Their origin and rapid transmission and spread have similar boundaries and share overlapping impact characteristics, including related symptoms and other interactions. The controversies and global threat of these viruses require rapid response policy and evidence-based implementation findings. The constraints and dual burden inflicted by Ebola and HIV infections are highly characterized by similar socio-demographics, socio-economic and political factors. EVD has similar effects and burdens to HIV infection. This study seeks to understand EVD in the context of HIV epidemic despite the challenges in developing an effective vaccine against HIV and EVD. Our findings show that early understanding, prevention and treatment of these diseases a global health threat mainly in Africa is important and valuable. The lessons learned so far from HIV and Ebola epidemics are crucial in health programming and execution of rapid response interventions and continued vigilance against EVD before it become another worldwide health menace. Therefore, the current regional West Africa EVD requires strengthening healthcare systems and building preparedness and response capacity. Importantly, appropriate community participation, health education and resilience coupled with deployment of effective novel diagnostic approaches in early warning and surveillance of threats and emerging diseases. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop novel key strategies are crucial in curbing the constant viral resurgence, persistence transmission dynamics and spread, as well in accelerating Ebola vaccines regimen (immunization) development and national implementation plans in achieving sustained control, and eventual elimination.