Providing Logistics Support to CDC-Deployed Staff for the Ebola Response in Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone

Abstract

The first Ebola cases in West Africa were reported by the Guinea Ministry of Health on March 23, 2014, and by June it became the largest recorded Ebola outbreak. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention field teams were deployed to West Africa, including in-country logistics staff who were critical for ensuring the movement of staff, equipment, and supplies to locations where public health knowledge and experience were applied to meet mission-related requirements. The logistics role was critical to creating the support for epidemiologists, medical doctors, laboratory staff, and health communicators involved in health promotion activities to successfully respond to the epidemic, both in the capital cities and in remote villages. Logistics personnel worked to procure equipment, such as portable video projectors, and have health promotion materials printed. Logistics staff also coordinated delivery of communication and health promotion materials to the embassy and provided assistance with distribution to various partners.

A Global Effective Ebola Outbreak Preparedness and Response from an Oil and Gas Company Perspective

“…These include the fluid movement of people and goods across the porous and remote national borders, cultural practices for caring and burial of sick persons and the limited local health systems with numerous communities refusing to use their services (15)(16)(17). Healthcare workers in the region were also affected due to inadequate infection control measures and weak surveillance systems for contact tracing (18)(19)(20). International response varied by country with some communication and intervention attempts that increased apprehension and fear in cities receiving travelers.…”

Reported Self-Efficacy of Health Educators During COVID-19

“…1,2 Public health issues which health educators are engaged include the decades-long opioid and obesity epidemics, as well as more rapidly proliferating events such as bioterrorism events and infectious diseases, such as H1N1, Zika, Ebola, and most recently COVID-19. [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] While health educators are focused on promoting healthy communities, this is also directly linked to the resilience of a community in the face of public health crises. 10 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response (PHEP) capabilities provide national preparedness standards to support public health emergency planning at state and local levels.…”