Title:
Composing a ‘fit-for-purpose’ health workforce for future Ebola outbreaks in a resource-limited setting: Lessons learned from the Ebola response in West Africa 2014/2015
Authors:
Oostvogels, Marieke
Place:
Amsterdam
Publisher:
KIT - Royal Tropical Institute [etc.]
Year:
2017
PAGE:
x, 47
Language:
En
Subject:
mHealth in Low-Resource Settings
Keywords:
Ebola, West-Africa, response, health workforce, HRH
Abstract:
Introduction: The Ebola outbreak in West Africa in 2014/15 had a tremendous impact on the countries of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone (SL). More than 28,000 people were infected and about 11,000 deaths were reported. Moreover, the entire functioning of the affected countries was paralyzed and health services were interrupted for a long time. The Ebola epidemic demanded specialized health care, which added an extra burden on the pre-existing insufficient health workforce (HW). Health workers played a central role in containing the Ebola epidemic. At the same time, these health workers were exposed to high risks of getting infected, and many of them lost their lives. Objective: The main aim of this thesis was to identify and discuss the role of the HW in addressing this Ebola outbreak, in order to provide recommendations for the national governments (Ministry of Health; MoH) in the sub-Saharan setting with limited resources. The influences of the pre-existing human resources for health (HRH) systems and the related socio-cultural and political environment were analyzed as well. Methods: To achieve this objective a literature review was performed. The analytical framework of Fuijta et al.(2011) was used, slightly adapted for this assessment, to critically assess the responsiveness of the HW during this Ebola outbreak. Findings: The main focus of the Ebola response of the national governments of Guinea, Liberia and SL and the supporting partners was concentrated on the production of extra health workers by scaling up the Ebola training capacities. Other elements of the HRH system (as illustrated in the framework) were minimal developed omitted in the Ebola response. Additionally, the authorities of Guinea, Liberia and SL neglected the influences and potentials of the community in the control of the epidemic for a long time. Good practices of Ebola responsiveness in Nigeria, Uganda and DRC illustrate the importance of having the availability and readiness of well-trained health workers and the close partnership of the government with community members, including the collaboration with informal health workers. Furthermore, a swift and adequate response of the HW relies inevitably on clear and well-implemented health structures and strategies. Conclusion & Recommendations: In order to enhance the responsiveness of the HW in an Ebola outbreak within a resource-limited setting, it is recommended to have health workers who are well-trained in outbreak management and motivated to participate in the response. The national MoH should ensure the capacity and take ownership in implementing clear HRH strategies and plans, both at national and decentralized levels, regardless of whether there is a health emergency situation or not. In times of an Ebola outbreak, the MoH should coordinate the response, including facilitating training initiatives, recruiting and deploying extra (temporal) health workers and volunteers, ensuring adequate salaries and incentives and maintaining a good collaboration with the local communities. Monitoring and evaluation of the HRH management during an outbreak is vital, in order to draw conclusions afterwards which will help improve the coordination for the future.
Organization:
KIT - Royal Tropical Institute
,
VU - Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Institute:
KIT (Royal Tropical Institute)
Country:
The Netherlands
Region:
Northwest Europe
Training:
Master of International Health
Category:
Research
Right:
@ 2017 Oostvogels
Document type:
Thesis/dissertation
File:
IoiF3QQcl3_20180412151311165.pdf