The politics of fear : Médecins sans frontières and the West African ebola epidemic

The 2014-2015 Ebola epidemic in West Africa was an unprecedented medical and political emergency that cast an unflattering light on multiple corners of government and international response. Fear, not rational planning, appeared to drive many decisions made at population and leadership levels, which in turn brought about a response that was as uneven as it was unprecedented: entire populations were decimated or destroyed, vaccine trials were fast-tracked, health staff died, untested medications were used (or not used) in controversial ways, humanitarian workers returned home to enforced isolation, and military was employed to sometimes disturbing ends. The epidemic revealed serious fault lines at all levels of theory and practice of global public health: national governments were shown to be helpless and unprepared for calamity at this scale; the World Health Organization was roundly condemned for its ineffectiveness; the US quietly created its own African CDC a year after the epidemic began. Amid such chaos, Médecins sans Frontières was forced to act with unprecdented autonomy -- and amid great criticism -- in responding to the disease, taking unprecedented steps in deploying services and advocating for international aid. __The Politics of Fear__ provides a primary documentary resource for recounting and learning from the Ebola epidemic. Comprising eleven topic-based chapters and four eyewitness vignettes from both MSF- and non-MSF-affiliated contributors (all of whom have been given access to MSF Ebola archives from Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia for research), it aims to provide a politically agnostic account of the defining health event of the 21st century so far, one that will hopefully inform current opinions and future responses. 'the Politics Of Fear' Is Médecins Sans Frontières's Commissioned Analysis Of The Politics Surrounding The 2014 Ebola Epidemic And Response. The Volume Contains 11 Topic-based Chapters And Four Eyewitness Vignettes From Contributors Inside And Outside Msf. Introduction / Michiel Hofman And Sokhieng Au -- Doctors Against Borders / João Nunes -- Whose Security? / Adia Benton -- Vignette 1. A Few Days In July / Lindis Hurum -- The Humanitarian Response To The Ebola Epidemic In Guinea / Jean-francois Caremel, Sylvain Landry B. Faye, And Ramatou Ouedraogo -- The Initial International Aid Response In Sierra Leone / Thomas Kratz -- Dying Of The Mundane In The Time Of Ebola / Mit Philips -- Vignette 2. Treating, Suffering, And Surviving Ebola -- How Did Médecins San Frontiers Negotiate Clinical Trials Of Unproven Treatments During The 2014-2015 Ebola Epidemic? / Annette Rid And Annick Antierens -- Failing Dr. Khan / Tim O'dempsey -- Finding An Answer To Ebola's Greatest Challenge / Armand Sprecher -- Vignette 3. Children In The Ebola Treatment Centers / Allie Tua Lappia And Patricia Carrick -- Fear And Containment / Alice Desclaux, Moustapha Diop, And Stéphane Doyon -- Challenges Of Instituting Effective Medevac Policies / Duncan Mclean -- Vignette 4. Returing To The Ebola World / E Maud Santantonio. Edited By Michiel Hofman And Sokhieng Au. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. The Politics of Fear is Médecins sans Frontières's commissioned analysis of the politics surrounding the 2014 Ebola epidemic and response. Comprising eleven topic-based chapters and four eyewitness vignettes from contributors inside and outside MSF (all of whom have been given access to MSF Ebola archives from Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia for research), it aims to provide a politically agnostic account of the defining health event of the 21st century so far, a resource that will inform current opinions and foster effectual, cooperative response to the future epidemics 'The Politics of Fear' is Mâedecins sans Frontiáeres's commissioned analysis of the politics surrounding the 2014 Ebola epidemic and response. The volume contains 11 topic-based chapters and four eyewitness vignettes from contributors inside and outside MSF The Politics of Fear is Medecins sans Frontieres's commissioned analysis of the politics surrounding the 2014 Ebola epidemic and response. Comprising eleven topic-based chapters and four eyewitness vignettes from contributors inside and outside MSF.