Emergency operation centers have been critical in stemming potential Ebola outbreaks in several West African countries like Nigeria and Mali, but there remain doubts about whether countries would keep them post-Ebola.
This is largely because of its potential to cause “institutional turf wars” within the government structure, according to Madji Sock, partner at global development advisory firm Dalberg.
EOCs provide critical services during crises. Their quick coordination and decision-making processes and immediate deployment of health personnel and lifesaving tools and equipment enable rapid response to public health threats. In the United States, the EOC, managed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response, is staffed round-the-clock and can transport personnel anywhere in the world within hours of receiving emergency notification.
About the author
Jenny Lei Ravelo@JennyLeiRavelo
Jenny Lei Ravelo is a Devex Senior Reporter based in Manila. She covers global health, with a particular focus on the World Health Organization, and other development and humanitarian aid trends in Asia Pacific. Prior to Devex, she wrote for ABS-CBN, one of the largest broadcasting networks in the Philippines, and was a copy editor for various international scientific journals. She received her journalism degree from the University of Santo Tomas.