Global Futures Initiative

She was aghast, and for good reason.

Korle-Bu is supposed to be Ghana’s premier health care facility, yet seemed oblivious to the standard and additional precautions cited on the World Health Organization website.

Then again, how could one expect a health care system that was grappling with cholera – arguably, less deadly - to have a fighting chance in addressing Ebola? In the nurse’s words: “The simple principle of isolate and hydrate is even a problem.”

Ghana might have better health services than Guinea, Liberia, or Sierra Leone, but similar challenges exist: poor infrastructure (particularly in rural areas), overworked personnel, a “cash and carry” payment system, and insufficient health awareness and education. 

While the first four might disproportionately affect the impoverished, poor education and awareness wreaks havoc on the masses - “educated” or otherwise:   “Mental models can be error prone, you think unconsciously, they are self-reinforcing, they limit our ability to change, they constrain our ability to recognize new situations and they are subject to bias that … confirm our prior understandings…” – Dr. Jim Yong Kim 

The most alarming thing is not that people can be prejudiced against one another by virtue of a disease, but rather that this prejudice might then extend to other areas and services, case in point, the Texas college which denied admission to two Nigerian students, citing Ebola concerns.

That notwithstanding, there have been some clear examples of what is possible when prejudice is put aside and cooperation takes the floor. In Nigeria, the swift action and cooperation between health care professionals and stakeholders helped allay what could have been a catastrophic turn in events, not only for Nigeria and West Africa, but for the world at large. Individuals like Liberia’s Fatu Kekula who improvised in the face of great odds to care for and save three members of her family, as well as Africa Responds  and other collaborative initiatives between African and Diaspora-based organizations also played a crucial role in turning the tide. 

This points to an essential lesson and global challenge: inclusiveness.

In order to create innovative solutions to key development challenges – be it Ebola or climate change – we require inclusiveness in thinking and knowledge sharing, cooperation, implementation, reporting and sharing results and successes, and especially in the responsibility that comes with affecting the lives of millions.

As Dr. Kim, aptly put it, it’s important to have a sense of urgency about these matters.

Jemila Abdulai currently works for the African Development Bank where she manages events across Africa, liaising with development practitioners in the government, private sector, and civil society.