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This article not only touches upon the dangerous and negative effects of the Ebola outbreak, but calls into questions an ethical controversy regarding preferential treatment when it comes to medical care. As the need for a cure escalates, the time allotted for the testing and developing of an anti-Ebola drug diminishes. Thus, medicine that has not been thoroughly tested has been distributed to two white Americans infected with the virus. This begs the question: Why these two? Does it have to do with their race or anti-African biases? And once the drug is fully developed, who will receive the treatment first? Who will be prioritized? Additionally, this contentious matter has added to the already distrustful African view of Western pharmaceuticals and relief efforts.

I found it interesting that not only did the article touch on the ethical questions of who to give the first available drugs to, from a standpoint of where it would be most effective rather than just where it would be most convenient. The part of the article where acceptance of the drug came into question was another touchy matter. The attempt to administer the drug as a solution to the Ebola break out is difficult because of the nature of the illness and the apprehension towards Western Medicine. Even though the medicine is available there's no telling if this quick fix will actually contain and solve the crisis just as Arthur Kaplan says at the end of the article.

The article brings to light interesting conflicts between African countries and the western industries of medicine. I feel like it would be effective to offer medical education to the local inhabitants in the infected african countries. That way their knowledge can help them avoid getting the disease. Furthermore, they would have more knowledge to help them decide whether or not they would like to take the drug that is possibly a functioning vaccination, rather than just not giving the sick African patients the option. The complexity of this problem is interesting because it deals with issues of ethics and trust.

"This story originally appeared on the PunditFact website. Poynter.org is republishing with permission. The shooting of 18-year-old African-American Michael Bro"

In order to remedy Ebola, Nations most affected by the virus, namely Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone, must allow their leaders to calm and heal the general public. If political and social leaders fail to eradicate the disease, the number of people infected will quickly rise from 3000 to 20,000. So far, several countries have mismanaged the outbreak. Governments quarantined rural and urban areas of aforementioned African countries; a slum in Monrovia, the Capitol of Liberia, was one of the blocked off places. Instead of helping the people, as intended, the quarantines trap people. These people feel disregarded and sentenced to death. Fear causes people to run from the spaces and further spread Ebola, defeating the purpose of the quarantine. Even if African governments take necessary steps to prevent the spread of the disease, Western aid is still essential. Western countries should not supply weapons to help contain quarantines, but rather provide medicine and experienced medical personnel. Unfortunately, the pay is not high enough for many medics to risk their lives treating a disease that is the highest risk to doctors and nurses. The solution to Ebola is not an obvious one; the entire process is experimental. However, U.N. experts say a medical center need be established in West Africa where representatives of every African country can convene to discuss the disease.

Very interesting article. It is interesting how psychology must be considered in giving aid to African countries infected with Ebola (for example, the article mentions that soldiers shouldn't brandish their weapons so Ebola patients won't be afraid of the quarantine). The quarantines seem like an extra cause for panic. Imagine a Liberian seeing a quarantine being set up. Do you think they would act calmly and happily admit themselves to the quarantine, or just simply run away and spread the virus further?

Great analysis--see quotes below--but my question is, can the widespread response that is needed actually be pulled together? Especially, can it be pulled together fast? "Most agreed on many basic principles. All, for example, were sure the outbreak could be stopped without experimental drugs or vaccines. None expected it to take less than six months." "Pay is also an issue, experts said. Health workers taking huge risks must be compensated, and so must their families if they die." "Also, this outbreak is like SARS in that doctors and nurses are in the highest risk group. Training must be extra-thorough - especially in taking off protective gear that might be smeared with virus. Nigeria, for example, does not let anyone near victims without three days of training on wearing protective gear, said its health minister, Dr. Onyebuchi Chukwu." "The new W.H.O. road map calls for 12,000 local health workers and 750 expatriates." ""There's no part of this you can't break down and make work," Dr. Aylward said. "But it took us 20 years to build the polio response, and this has to be done in 20 days."

There still remains a fear of white empowerment in today's South Africa, and this has certainly contributed to the loyalism that has kept the ANC in power. Yet because the current unemployment rate for men and women aged 15-24 averages 49.8%, and the median age of South Africa is 25.5 years, the younger demographics of the country will lend itself to chipping away at the ANC's majority vote. The ANC has fallen to nepotism and other forms of corruption in recent years, and has angered many South Africans. As a result, the Democratic Alliance (main opposition party) will possibly gain more votes, as might the recently formed Economic Freedom Fighters party. However, it is important to note that the leaders and constituents of these parties aren't the most attractive to the majority of South Africans--but neither is the behemoth of the ANC. It appears these three major parties (ANC, DA, EFF) are extreme or corrupt in one way or another, so elections will be more akin to choosing the lesser evil.

This article is essentially about the African Union Health Minister saying that there are methods to soften the blow of the Omicron Variant that warrant some optimism. We generally see bad news around COVID, especially with Omicron, so this is good to see.

I agree with Arjun's comment, and the criticism of richer nations' booster shots is super valid.

1 in 3 Africans do not have access to electricity. Providers are not reliable due to a lack on infrastructure. New measures may be able to change this helping both the providers and the customers.

I think that it's great that there are these new measures to implement affordable electricity to parts of Africa, but I wish the article went into more detail on when they are planning to take action/what year do they aim to have this completed.

Good point!

population Africa Europe

Argues that the "incompetence" of the ANC has not been conducive for economic growth and has angered South Africans because "too little wealth trickles down" due to less economic competition from ANC's corruption. Says that the ANC needs more political competition, or should split to accurately reflect it's composition for voters: "the populist left and the fat-cat right". Contrasts this political one-sidedness with the rest of African countries. As I read this article, I wondered how the political conflict will affect the country--probably not to the point where development regresses, but it serves as a reminder that NICs have their own problems.

South Africa is experience a similar police brutality as the US. However their's comes from a much different history, hence "coloured lives". South African citizens remember police from the apartheid, who then followed white leadership and used force to assassinate leaders, start violence, and enforce the rules. That is tearing the police-citizen relationship apart. They recently murdered 16 year old Nathaniel Julies when he was caught in between fire, sparking outrage and protest.

Country Profiles

This article compiles different opinions about NATO's operation in Libya and has the links to other articles for more information about that particular opinion.

It's interesting how the South African president was upset by the bombing campaign because it was in an no fly zone intended to "protect civilians," yet the bombing campaign was also intended to help civilians.

Provides facts and statistics concerning access to fresh water in African countries