EBOLA: VALUABLE LESSONS LEARNT AS WHO ACKNOWLEDGES LAPSES IN HANDLING EBOLA OUTBREAK

World Health Organisation (WHO) leaders have published a statement acknowledging lapses in the organizations handling of the Ebola outbreak which began in December 2013.
They have outlined eight valuable lessons learnt while dealing with the Ebola virus.
These are;
(1) That new diseases and old diseases in new contexts must be treated with humility and an ability to respond quickly to surprises.
(2) Health gains such as fewer child death, controls over malaria and more women  surviving child birth are all too easily reversed when built on fragile health systems.
(3) The current national and international capacities and systems cannot cope with large scale outbreaks
(4 )WHO's engagement with the affected communities and cultures was inadequate.  This is not simply getting the right messages across. We must learn to listen if we want to be heard. Empowering communities must be an action not a cliche.
(5 )That global surveillance and response system is only as strong as its weakest links and that a disease threat in one country is a threat to us all.
(6) Recognizing the need to co-ordinate with other organisations and work in partnership when WHO lacks capacity.
(7) That incentives are needed to encourage the development of new medical products for diseases that disproportionately affect the poor.
(8) The importance of communications of risks early or communicating clearly what is needed and involving communities and their leaders.