Ebola crisis and response

Obama's new Ebola czar — and what it means for US aid work on the ground

U.S. President Barack Obama has picked a new "Ebola czar" to coordinate the response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. The appointment shows the severity of the crisis for Washington — but what does it mean for U.S.-led and international efforts to combat the disease?

By Jeff Tyson // 22 October 2014

As the international aid community grappled with the Ebola crisis in West Africa in October, the United States went a step further in its fraught strategy to contain the disease by designating an Ebola response coordinator.

On Oct. 17, U.S. President Barack Obama appointed Ron Klain as his “Ebola czar.”

With a background in law and politics, Klain manages the U.S. response to the virus. But what does the role mean for development professionals working on the ground to contain the disease?

This article is free to read - just register or sign in

Access news, newsletters, events and more.

Join us