Report “MCDA Deployment in Natural Disasters and Health Crises : The Ebola Crisis”, 2017

27/07/2017

Speed was of the essence in the fight against Ebola, but in view of the difficulties encountered by aid agencies to deploy enough staff and equipment, it took a long time before the health response was able to reach the required capacity. Rapid response implies that training of health-care workers is up and running quickly, that infrastructures are in place and equipment operational. The U.S. military, with its vast logistical capability, extensive air operations, and highly skilled medical corps, was mobilised to address gaps in the response. However, even the military needed time to set their operations in motion, and their hospitals only started to be operational when the epidemic had already peaked.