Godfrey B. Tangwa · Akin Abayomi Samuel J. Ujewe Nchangwi Syntia Munung Editors
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Godfrey B. Tangwa · Akin Abayomi Samuel J. Ujewe Nchangwi Syntia Munung Editors Socio-cultural Dimensions of Emerging Infectious Diseases in Africa An Indigenous Response to Deadly Epidemics Socio-cultural Dimensions of Emerging Infectious Diseases in Africa [email protected] Godfrey B. Tangwa • Akin Abayomi Samuel J. Ujewe • Nchangwi Syntia Munung Editors Socio-cultural Dimensions of Emerging Infectious Diseases in Africa An Indigenous Response to Deadly Epidemics [email protected] Editors Godfrey B. Tangwa Akin Abayomi Department of Philosophy Global Emerging Pathogen Treatment University of Yaounde 1 Consortium (GET) Consortium Yaounde, Cameroon Lagos, Nigeria Cameroon Bioethics Initiative (CAMBIN) Nigerian Medical Research Institute Yaounde, Cameroon (NIMR) Lagos, Nigeria Global Emerging Pathogen Treatment Consortium (GET) Consortium Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Lagos, Nigeria University of Stellenbosch Stellenbosch, South Africa Samuel J. Ujewe Global Emerging Pathogens Treatment Nchangwi Syntia Munung Consortium Department of Medicine Lagos, Nigeria University of Cape Town Cape Town, South Africa Canadian Institute for Genomics and Society Global Emerging Pathogen Treatment Toronto, ON, Canada Consortium (GET) Consortium Lagos, Nigeria ISBN 978-3-030-17473-6 ISBN 978-3-030-17474-3 (eBook) https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-17474-3 © Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2019 Open Access Chapter 18 is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). For further details see licence information in the chapter. This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifcally the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microflms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specifc statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. The publisher, the authors, and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the publisher nor the authors or the editors give a warranty, express or implied, with respect to the material contained herein or for any errors or omissions that may have been made. The publisher remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affliations. This Springer imprint is published by the registered company Springer Nature Switzerland AG. The registered company address is: Gewerbestrasse 11, 6330 Cham, Switzerland [email protected] Preface Epidemics caused by emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) are fueled by a variety of complex drivers, and it becomes imperative that a strategic plan to prevent or man- age epidemics or outbreaks of EIDs will have multiple facets. The West African Ebola outbreak which commenced in December 2013 and was only recognized as Ebola in March or April 2014 is a perfect example of a multifac- eted health problem. It soon became apparent that indigenous medical and cultural practices were the key catalysts of the rapid spread of the epidemic. The Global Emerging Pathogens Treatment Consortium (GET), was born at the height of the epidemic in August 2014. GET is a consortium made up of African indigenous experts drawn from all walks of life, with the required expertise to mount a holistic response to an EID outbreak. GET grew rapidly with the support of many interna- tional collaborators, and organized itself into work groups addressing issues related to: research ethics; clinical trials; blood product component therapy; community engagement; anthropological and social issues; biobanking; biocontainment; and logistics. One of the major drivers of the rapid spread of the EVD outbreak in West Africa were social and cultural practices; thus, the Cultural, Anthropological, Social and Economic (CASE) work group was formed and became a leading player in the stra- tegic response to the outbreak. Cultural practices that were driving the outbreak as well as those that were retarding response strategies were quickly targeted by the CASE work group with the aim of mitigating and adapting to the changing dynamic of the situation. It could even be said that one of the interventions that helped to turn around the momentum of the outbreak were in the socio-cultural domain - interven- tions related to: sanitation, traditional burial practices, stigmatization and discrimination. The CASE work group has grown from strength to strength. Led by its Chairperson, Professor Godfrey B Tangwa, the work group rapidly conceptualized a documentary of cultural, economic and anthropological issues on the micro and macro levels. It was clear that, as a global community, we often forget, during public v [email protected] vi Preface health emergencies, to address socio-cultural issues that could engender global secuity risk. The 2014 Ebola outbreak has taught us many things. It has taught us, most importantly, that during periods of a dangerous epidemic, it is easy for human rights to be abused and for cultural sensitivities to be sidelined. This is amplifed when the epidemic has the potential of transforming into a pandemic. This book is concieved as an inter-/intra-disciplinary publication with contribu- tions from several knowledge domains. Some of its chapters are jointly authored by experts from different disciplinary perspectives. It would therefore have a broad appeal across disciplines including: medical sciences, research ethics, regulation and governance, health communication and the social sciences. It is our hope that this book will be an encouragement for all global health stakeholders, who are com- mitted to improving basic health standards in Africa, a continent that has histori- cally borne the heavy burden of enslavement, colonisation, exploitation, poverty and, disease, all in spite or perhaps because of its enormous resources and potentialities. We are therefore happy to present this compilation that highlights many of the philosophical, scientifc, social and anthropological issues experienced during the 2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa. This by no means exhausts issues that need discussion. However, it is arguably the frst comprehensive attempt by African schol- ars, researchers and their collaborators to address major socio-cultural con- cerns linked to the management of EIDs such as Ebola, Lassa Fever, Monkeypox and Zika for all global communities to deliberate upon because pandemics know no boundaries, and all communities are at risk and vulnerable. We hope that you will enjoy this collection and that it would stimulate further refection and preparedness on how to contain future epidemics of EIDs. Lagos, Nigeria Akin Abayomi Yaounde, Cameroon Godfrey B. Tangwa Cape Town, South Africa Nchangwi Syntia Munung Toronto, Canada Samuel J. Ujewe February 2019 [email protected] Contents 1 Editorial: African Perspectives and Approaches for African Healthcare Challenges . 1 Samuel J. Ujewe, Nchangwi Syntia Munung, Akin Abayomi, and Godfrey B. Tangwa Part I Emerging Deadly Pathogens and Clinical Practice 2 How and Why the Global Emerging Pathogens Treatment Consortium Was Created . 15 Akin Abayomi and Diran Makinde 3 Emerging Infectious Diseases: A Historical and Scientific Review . 31 Gibril Ndow, J. Radeino Ambe, and Oyewale Tomori 4 Epidemiology and Management of Lassa Fever in the West African Sub-Region: Overcoming the Socio-cultural Challenges . 41 Godsent Chichebem Isiguzo and Michael Onyebuchi Iroezindu Part II Social Determinants of EID 5 Socio-cultural and Economic Concerns on Use of Convalescent Blood or Plasma for the Management of Ebola Virus Disease in Africa . 61 Nchangwi Syntia Munung, Godfrey B. Tangwa, David Houeto, Awa Keita, J. Radeino Ambe, and Akin Abayomi 6 The Impact of Ebola Virus Disease on Government Expenditure in Sierra Leone . 75 Fuein Vera Kum, Saheed Olayiwola, and Njong Mom Aloysius vii [email protected] viii Contents 7 Public Health Emergencies: The Role of Science Education and Communication in Africa . 91 Elizabeth Rasekoala and African Gong 8 Ebola and the Reimagining of Health Communication in Liberia . 109 Sally Deffor Part III Global Health and Governance 9 A Political Conception of Pandemics and Epidemics in Africa . 125 Frank Aragbonfoh Abumere 10 Global Emerging Pathogens and the (Prescriptive) Role of the World Health Organization . 135 Godfrey B. Tangwa and Muhammed O. Afolabi 11 Disease Outbreaks in Africa and the Response of African Governments . 143 Oyewale Tomori 12 Africans in the Diaspora-The Hidden Force: Economics, Investment, Skilled Workforce and Public Health . 161 J. Radeino Ambe, Marion Koso-Thomas, Samuel G. Adewusi, and Muhammed O. Afolabi 13 Insufficiency of Pathogen Focused Approaches Towards Managing Deadly Epidemics in Africa: Harmonising the Roles of Governments, Health Systems and Populations . 173 Samuel J. Ujewe and Alice Mungwa Part IV Ethics and Policy in the Context of EIDs 14 Context and Ethical Challenges During the Ebola Outbreak in West Africa . 191 J. Radeino Ambe and Francis K. Kombe 15 Scientific