The Politics of Fear

Médecins sans Frontières and the West African Ebola Epidemic

Nonfiction, Health & Well Being, Medical, Ailments & Diseases, Infectious Diseases, General, Reference, Public Health
Cover of the book The Politics of Fear by , Oxford University Press
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: ISBN: 9780190624491
Publisher: Oxford University Press Publication: January 5, 2017
Imprint: Oxford University Press Language: English
Author:
ISBN: 9780190624491
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Publication: January 5, 2017
Imprint: Oxford University Press
Language: English

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.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

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.

More books from Oxford University Press

Cover of the book The Music Teaching Artist's Bible by
Cover of the book Outside In by
Cover of the book Darwin's Camera by
Cover of the book Borrowing by
Cover of the book Pelvic Pain Management by
Cover of the book George Berkeley: Oxford Bibliographies Online Research Guide by
Cover of the book On the Genealogy of Morals: A Polemic. By way of clarification and supplement to my last book Beyond Good and Evil by
Cover of the book Perception and Basic Beliefs by
Cover of the book Action Meets Word by
Cover of the book The Idea of Human Rights by
Cover of the book Internal Medicine Issues in Palliative Cancer Care by
Cover of the book Women and Elective Office by
Cover of the book The Madness of Fear by
Cover of the book Fixing Democracy by
Cover of the book A Cabinet of Ancient Medical Curiosities by
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy