WHO – World Health
Organization
EVALUATING THE ROLE OF WHO IN
CONTROLLING THE SPREAD OF DISEASES.
What is WHO and what do they do? -throughout their work, they address, The zoonotic virus can transmitted
human capital across the life course, through direct virus. This can occur in
WHO is a charity, working with 194 mental health problems, climate a number of different ways, some
Member states across six regions and change in small island developing examples include: through blood,
from more than 150 states, which works states, antimicrobial resistance and bodily fluids and body tissues of
worldwide to promote health issues and elimination, eradication of high-impact infected animals or people. The
ways to prevent them, keep the world communicable diseases (WHO 2019). disease can spread rapidly, when in
safe and to serve the vulnerable in all contact with family members and
parts of the world. Their overall goal is In terms of prevention of disease, friends, who have the virus as they are
to protect billions of people from health WHO looks at factors of population exposed to infectious secretions if
emergencies and provide a further and prevention by early detection of caring for an ill individual.
billion people with better health and disease. By doing this, WHO aims to
well-being. The organization began on minimize the number of diseases The onset of symptoms of Ebola can
the 7th of April 1948. spread and associated risk factors to range from the time interval of 2-21
the specific disease. days after being exposed to the Ebola
They focus on primary health care to hermorrhagic fever (Medical New
improve access to quality essential An introduction to Ebola Today 2019). The course of the illness
services, as some people may not have may progress from ‘dry’ symptoms to
access to services like other people. They The Ebola virus disease is a virus, as
then ‘wet’ symptoms as the person
also work towards many other targets: suggested by the name and is one of a
becomes sicker. Primary notifications
they work towards sustainable financing range of viral hemorrhagic fevers
and symptoms Of Ebola can include: a
and financing protection, improve caused by infection with a virus of the
fever, aches such as in the abdominal
access to essential medicines and health Filoviridae family, with the genius
area or pains such as severe
products, train the health workforce and being Ebolavirus in the classification
headaches or in the muscles/joints,
advice on labour policies. system. The virus originated from
weakness and fatigue, unexplained
Saharan Africa. Ebola is generally
bleeding/bruising and gastrointestinal
WHO work in many different health considered a zoonotic virus because it
symptoms including vomiting and
sectors such as: health emergencies (in originates from animals and then
diarrhoea. As the virus progresses,
this they prepare by identifying and spread to humans, through animal to
late stage symptoms include: red eyes,
managing tasks) and health and well- human contact.
skin rashes and hiccups (CDC-
being (address social determinants-
Centres for Disease Control and
conditions in which people are born,
Prevention 2019).
, grow, live, work and age). Overall
Ways -in Which the Ebola virus can be spread, Methods by which WHO helps
stop the spread of Ebola and an Evaluation of the Methods Used by WHO in
how effective they are.
How the Ebola virus can be spread Strengths and weaknesses of methods
used by WHO to help stop the spread
Travelers should be at minimal risk of Ebola
when visiting countries in sub-Saharan
Africa, for most people. However, these Reducing the risk of wildlife – animal to
people can be at the most risk if they human transmission is the most effective
have done the following: cared for method to help stop the spread of Ebola,
infected people and have handled bodily as the first case of Ebola occurred in West-
fluids of those who are infected- e.g. -of transmission is the main reason to Africa in 1976, possibly when a person
hospital workers, laboratory workers why Ebola affects so many people and encountered an infected bat (Nbc News
and family members. Some ways in the reason to why so many people die 2019). However, it may be difficult for
which the virus can be spread include: from the hemorrhagic virus. To reduce travelers, especially tourists, to stay away
directly touching a person who has this type of transmission, WHO from wildlife, when visiting West Africa,
recently died or the body of someone advices and makes sure to wear groves especially parts of Sierra Leone, Guinea
who has symptoms related to the and appropriate protective equipment and Nigeria.
disease, touching unsterilized needles or when taking care of ill patients and
medical equipment used in the care of that regular handwashing is required, Community engagement plays a main role
the infected person, handling/eating raw when after being in contact with Ebola in helping stop the spread of Ebola as
or uncooked ‘bush meat’ and having sex patients to avoid coming in contact together communities can get together
with an infected person without using a with the virus. In addition to this, and learn methods to reduce factors that
condom-this is because studies show reducing the risk of possible sexual can increase the risk of getting Ebola, and
that traces of Ebola can stay in the transmission can help prevent the therefore help stop the spread of Ebola to
semen many years after the recovery spread of the Ebola virus; WHO has keep it controlled, and eventually
from the Ebola virus (NHS 2019). advised male survivors to practice safer decreasing the number of infected.
sex and hygiene for 12 months, until However, this type of method’s weakness
Ways in which WHO help prevent their seen tests for negative, which is that individuals that work for WHO
the spread of Ebola means that there aren’t even traces of cannot simply go and visit every village in
the Ebola virus in their semen. the continent Africa, or even West Africa
To control outbreaks of this disease, as this is a time-consuming process.
WHO relies on safe burials, case In general, health workers should be
management, surveillance (watching very careful and should take standard A strength of reducing human to human
over a patient’s condition) and contact- precautions when carrying for patients, transmission is that it reduces the pace at
tracking (identifying people who may regardless to whether they have been which the Ebola virus is spread and can
have come in contact with in infected diagnosed with the virus or not. reduce the number of people infected
person) and social mobilasation (process Health-care workers generally do this rapidly. In order to be successful in using
of bring all societal and personal by participating in basic hygiene, this type of method, regular handwashing
influences together to raise awareness respiratory hygiene, safe injection is required from doctors and nurses whilst
and demand for healthcare in terms of a practices and safe burial practices. taking care of ill patients and protective
disease outbreak- which in this case is When in close contact with a patient, equipment should also be worn. However,
Ebola). Moreover, community approximately one meter, health- care it is difficult to have plenty full supply of
engagement is the key to successfully workers will wear face protection, such all these items all the time, in order to be
controlling outbreaks. Risk reduction as: a face mask and googles. Health safe from the virus. Also, doctors and
messaging methods can help reduces care workers should and will always nurses can sometimes make mistakes and
the spread of Ebola; one example of this wear non-sterile gown, which should miss handwashing for example. This is a
is reducing the risk of wildlife- to- be long- sleeved. They should always reason to why this type of method is not
human transmission from the contact of wear sterile gloves (for some as successful as the others, however it
infected animals, known to contain procedures) or non- special gloves should still be done as without this
Ebola such as: fruit bats, monkeys, apes, (WHO- World Health Organisation method, numbers of ill patients will be
forest antelope or porcupines. Also, to 2019). likely to increase, leading to an outbreak
avoid the consumption of raw meat of of Ebola.
these specific animals. Another example
of this may be to reduce the risk of
human to human transmission, this type
Organization
EVALUATING THE ROLE OF WHO IN
CONTROLLING THE SPREAD OF DISEASES.
What is WHO and what do they do? -throughout their work, they address, The zoonotic virus can transmitted
human capital across the life course, through direct virus. This can occur in
WHO is a charity, working with 194 mental health problems, climate a number of different ways, some
Member states across six regions and change in small island developing examples include: through blood,
from more than 150 states, which works states, antimicrobial resistance and bodily fluids and body tissues of
worldwide to promote health issues and elimination, eradication of high-impact infected animals or people. The
ways to prevent them, keep the world communicable diseases (WHO 2019). disease can spread rapidly, when in
safe and to serve the vulnerable in all contact with family members and
parts of the world. Their overall goal is In terms of prevention of disease, friends, who have the virus as they are
to protect billions of people from health WHO looks at factors of population exposed to infectious secretions if
emergencies and provide a further and prevention by early detection of caring for an ill individual.
billion people with better health and disease. By doing this, WHO aims to
well-being. The organization began on minimize the number of diseases The onset of symptoms of Ebola can
the 7th of April 1948. spread and associated risk factors to range from the time interval of 2-21
the specific disease. days after being exposed to the Ebola
They focus on primary health care to hermorrhagic fever (Medical New
improve access to quality essential An introduction to Ebola Today 2019). The course of the illness
services, as some people may not have may progress from ‘dry’ symptoms to
access to services like other people. They The Ebola virus disease is a virus, as
then ‘wet’ symptoms as the person
also work towards many other targets: suggested by the name and is one of a
becomes sicker. Primary notifications
they work towards sustainable financing range of viral hemorrhagic fevers
and symptoms Of Ebola can include: a
and financing protection, improve caused by infection with a virus of the
fever, aches such as in the abdominal
access to essential medicines and health Filoviridae family, with the genius
area or pains such as severe
products, train the health workforce and being Ebolavirus in the classification
headaches or in the muscles/joints,
advice on labour policies. system. The virus originated from
weakness and fatigue, unexplained
Saharan Africa. Ebola is generally
bleeding/bruising and gastrointestinal
WHO work in many different health considered a zoonotic virus because it
symptoms including vomiting and
sectors such as: health emergencies (in originates from animals and then
diarrhoea. As the virus progresses,
this they prepare by identifying and spread to humans, through animal to
late stage symptoms include: red eyes,
managing tasks) and health and well- human contact.
skin rashes and hiccups (CDC-
being (address social determinants-
Centres for Disease Control and
conditions in which people are born,
Prevention 2019).
, grow, live, work and age). Overall
Ways -in Which the Ebola virus can be spread, Methods by which WHO helps
stop the spread of Ebola and an Evaluation of the Methods Used by WHO in
how effective they are.
How the Ebola virus can be spread Strengths and weaknesses of methods
used by WHO to help stop the spread
Travelers should be at minimal risk of Ebola
when visiting countries in sub-Saharan
Africa, for most people. However, these Reducing the risk of wildlife – animal to
people can be at the most risk if they human transmission is the most effective
have done the following: cared for method to help stop the spread of Ebola,
infected people and have handled bodily as the first case of Ebola occurred in West-
fluids of those who are infected- e.g. -of transmission is the main reason to Africa in 1976, possibly when a person
hospital workers, laboratory workers why Ebola affects so many people and encountered an infected bat (Nbc News
and family members. Some ways in the reason to why so many people die 2019). However, it may be difficult for
which the virus can be spread include: from the hemorrhagic virus. To reduce travelers, especially tourists, to stay away
directly touching a person who has this type of transmission, WHO from wildlife, when visiting West Africa,
recently died or the body of someone advices and makes sure to wear groves especially parts of Sierra Leone, Guinea
who has symptoms related to the and appropriate protective equipment and Nigeria.
disease, touching unsterilized needles or when taking care of ill patients and
medical equipment used in the care of that regular handwashing is required, Community engagement plays a main role
the infected person, handling/eating raw when after being in contact with Ebola in helping stop the spread of Ebola as
or uncooked ‘bush meat’ and having sex patients to avoid coming in contact together communities can get together
with an infected person without using a with the virus. In addition to this, and learn methods to reduce factors that
condom-this is because studies show reducing the risk of possible sexual can increase the risk of getting Ebola, and
that traces of Ebola can stay in the transmission can help prevent the therefore help stop the spread of Ebola to
semen many years after the recovery spread of the Ebola virus; WHO has keep it controlled, and eventually
from the Ebola virus (NHS 2019). advised male survivors to practice safer decreasing the number of infected.
sex and hygiene for 12 months, until However, this type of method’s weakness
Ways in which WHO help prevent their seen tests for negative, which is that individuals that work for WHO
the spread of Ebola means that there aren’t even traces of cannot simply go and visit every village in
the Ebola virus in their semen. the continent Africa, or even West Africa
To control outbreaks of this disease, as this is a time-consuming process.
WHO relies on safe burials, case In general, health workers should be
management, surveillance (watching very careful and should take standard A strength of reducing human to human
over a patient’s condition) and contact- precautions when carrying for patients, transmission is that it reduces the pace at
tracking (identifying people who may regardless to whether they have been which the Ebola virus is spread and can
have come in contact with in infected diagnosed with the virus or not. reduce the number of people infected
person) and social mobilasation (process Health-care workers generally do this rapidly. In order to be successful in using
of bring all societal and personal by participating in basic hygiene, this type of method, regular handwashing
influences together to raise awareness respiratory hygiene, safe injection is required from doctors and nurses whilst
and demand for healthcare in terms of a practices and safe burial practices. taking care of ill patients and protective
disease outbreak- which in this case is When in close contact with a patient, equipment should also be worn. However,
Ebola). Moreover, community approximately one meter, health- care it is difficult to have plenty full supply of
engagement is the key to successfully workers will wear face protection, such all these items all the time, in order to be
controlling outbreaks. Risk reduction as: a face mask and googles. Health safe from the virus. Also, doctors and
messaging methods can help reduces care workers should and will always nurses can sometimes make mistakes and
the spread of Ebola; one example of this wear non-sterile gown, which should miss handwashing for example. This is a
is reducing the risk of wildlife- to- be long- sleeved. They should always reason to why this type of method is not
human transmission from the contact of wear sterile gloves (for some as successful as the others, however it
infected animals, known to contain procedures) or non- special gloves should still be done as without this
Ebola such as: fruit bats, monkeys, apes, (WHO- World Health Organisation method, numbers of ill patients will be
forest antelope or porcupines. Also, to 2019). likely to increase, leading to an outbreak
avoid the consumption of raw meat of of Ebola.
these specific animals. Another example
of this may be to reduce the risk of
human to human transmission, this type
