Development in Practice
Volume 26, Issue 2, 2016
http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/cdip20/current

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African solutions to African problems and the Ebola virus disease in Nigeria
Nathaniel Umukoro
pages 149-157
DOI:10.1080/09614524.2016.1133563
Published online: 10 Feb 2016
ABSTRACT
Africa grapples with the world’s most serious public health crisis, but this article shows that there are public health solutions that work in the African setting. When the Ebola virus disease outbreak was announced in Nigeria in July 2014, some public health specialists worried that an apocalyptic outbreak would sweep through the vast slums of Lagos. The words “Ebola” and “Lagos” in the same sentence were viewed as a dangerous combination, due to the large population of Lagos and the inefficient health care system in the city. Contrary to this view, the outbreak of Ebola virus disease was successfully contained in Nigeria. This article focuses on the factors that were responsible for this success. It examines strategies developed within Nigeria that help to ensure the successful containment of the disease. The paper identifies lessons that can be learnt by other countries from the Nigerian experience.

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Practical Note
Management and safety of a medical mission: occupational hazards of volunteering
Aidan Tan, Yuke Tien Fong, Sweet Far Ho, Boon Keng Tay & Yeow Leng Chua
pages 251-257
DOI:10.1080/09614524.2016.1131245
Published online: 10 Feb 2016
ABSTRACT
Medical aid missions involve travel to conflict or danger zones, posing safety risks in addition to the usual occupational risks arising from daily medical work. The note reports on a volunteer mission, using personal reports, anecdotal experiences, and the formal annual report to undertake an assessment similar to worksite assessments for hazards and control measures. Hazards were found to be prevalent, including physical noise and heat, infectious exposure from patients and local vectors, poor water sanitation, and psychosocial stress from unfamiliar environments and large patient numbers with limited means. Implementable preventative measures include increasing awareness with appropriate protective equipment usage and safety guidelines. Mission planning and management should also involve occupational health input.