Ebola Haemorrhagic Fever, commonly known as Ebola, is a rare, yet fatal disease. On average,
the disease carries a fifty-percent fatality rate. In recent years, it has climbed to a staggering
ninety-percent. So far Ebola has been most prominent in underdeveloped countries such as
Gabon, Uganda, and The Democratic Republic of Congo. The most recent major outbreak
occurred from 2014-2016 in mainly West African countries. This outbreak was the largest and
deadliest of all time, killing almost twenty-five percent of the population. Today, a more
complicated outbreak is underway in the eastern side of The Democratic Republic of Congo.
Underdeveloped countries do not have the money, resources, or programs to attack the virus, and
thus the Ebola often spreads amongst poorer citizens. Ebola disrupts order and handicaps
countries from moving forward with innovation, technology, and social welfare. The World
Health Organization must attack this devastating virus head-on
Being an island country, Sri Lanka has not been had to deal with the detrimental burden
of Ebola. We have proudly reported zero cases of Ebola within the past ten years This is due to
the many multiple preventive measures which Sri Lanka has instituted. For example, we have
ensured that the multiple departments of our Ministries of Health remain interconnected. This
ultimately has helped with coordination, planning, and discussion. Furthermore, we have
implemented airport screening programs to ensure that travelers do not bring the virus along with
them. An additional measure we have taken is applying in-depth guidelines for medical
procedures and the handling of body fluids. As a result of our thorough preventive measures, Sri
Lanka has been able to maintain a healthy, functional society. Without being intrusive, the
initiatives have been able to allow the public to go about their normal day while also sustaining a
clean environment
Within recent years, our country has implemented numerous preventive initiatives to
prevent an Ebola outbreak. Over time, these programs have proven to be extremely effective in
preventing an epidemic. Thus, Sri Lanka has confidence in plans that help maintain
interconnected Health, Surveillance, and Hospital departments. By making sure these
fundamental three departments are constantly sharing knowledge of current and future events,
we can prevent outbreaks and keep our citizens healthy. Within Sri Lanka, this has proven
successful and is shown in our zero reported cases of Ebola.
In order to prevent outbreaks within third world countries, we must look further than
short-run programs. These developing countries face financial, infrastructure, and environmental
issues, Together, these all ultimately come back to one sole issue – money. Without funds, these
countries lack the ability to raise the standard of living, improve the economy, or sustain
wide-scale governmental programs as simple as refuse collection. Therefore, the disease spreads
quickly and without any stop. By funding these countries, we can help create wealth and thus
help them institute measures to improve the numerous issues they face. Over time, we will see
developing nations create healthier, sustainable communities in which health is of the highest
priority. By using the IHR, The International Health Regulations, we can help raise funds for
these nations to use and combat disease – specifically Ebola.
Sri Lanka is confident in our ability to fight this epidemic together as the World Health
Committee. One of our committee’s goals in the past years for society has been,“The enjoyment
of the highest attainable standard of health” as “one of the fundamental rights of every human
being without distinction”, and this is what we must achieve across the world. By combining
short-run programs with long-run solutions, WHO will be able to combat Ebola faster and more
effectively than ever before.
- Kumaran Nathan
