There’s a lot of “if only’s” in conversations about what could have prevented the Ebola epidemic in West Africa. We’ve heard about the importance of strong health systems, trained front-line health workers and swift international response to emerging health threats. If foresight were used, governments might have been better equipped to respond to the current situation in the region.
Peter van de Pol, a policy adviser for capacity development at the United Nations Development Program, works on foresight with public institutions. Foresight means imagining different futures, reflecting that change is happening constantly and the future is not a given. Traditional planning strategies, meanwhile, predict the future based on past events.
In the case of West Africa, clinics were built to deal with diseases that have surfaced in the region over the last 10-20 years. Before 2014, Ebola only affected countries outside the region.
About the author
Ma. Eliza VillarinoDevexElizaJV
Eliza is a veteran journalist focused on covering the most pressing issues and latest innovations in global health, humanitarian aid, sustainability, and development. A member of Mensa, Eliza has earned a master's degree in public affairs and bachelor's degree in political science from the University of the Philippines.
