Introduction
In 2014, several countries in West Africa were affected by a severe and life-threatening pathogen, known as the Ebola virus. While most states assisted in these regions, many non-African nations also implemented discriminatory policies that contradicted the advice of the World Health Association (WHO) (Squire 114). Moreover, these actions brought light to such issues as inequality, racism, and human rights. Countries in Europe, North America, and Asia restricted travel for people from affected regions who refused to deploy medical personnel and did not participate in the creation of a vaccine. These three factors expose the unequal treatment of the outbreak as a regional rather than a global issue.
Discrimination
First of all, the travel bans and restrictions implemented by several countries were not advised by the WHO. Canada and Australia, as well as several countries in the Middle East and Africa, were the most active proponents of this ban, halting the movements for both people and goods from states affected by the Ebola outbreak. This ban implies that any person coming from an affected country is dangerous, and it limits people’s ability to travel, work, or study overseas. Moreover, it also increases racial tensions as it propagates the fear of people from affected African countries regardless of their current location.
Second, multiple countries did not assist the affected regions by deploying qualified medical personnel to deal with the outbreak. Canada, Australia, South Korea, and Japan expressed concerns over putting their medical specialists at risk of infection (Squire 117). While this concern is valid, healthcare provision is a duty of medical staff, and countries are expected to help each other in their time of need. Furthermore, trained medical workers could substantially benefit the progression of the outbreak, treating patients and increasing awareness about prevention strategies.
Finally, the absence of a vaccine poses the question of whether its development could be tied to profitability. African countries affected by the virus did not have enough money to finance the vaccine’s creation, and prosperous Western companies did not see any benefits to spending resources without the potential for profit (Squire 119). This particular type of discrimination is connected to the capitalist nature of the healthcare system.
Similarities to COVID-19 and Racialization
Currently, the whole world suffers from a similar crisis that is also characterized by inequity. China was the first country to detect the virus, and the initial responses to this news were comparable to the Ebola outbreak. Travelers from China were questioned upon entering other countries, and many people of Chinese background suffered from racial discrimination and even violence. It is especially evident in North American nations, where numerous acts of violence and discrimination were committed against Asian American people.
Furthermore, the borders of many countries are closed at the moment. The vaccine for COVID-19 is under development, and one may point out this is tied to the fact that European and American states have many cases of the disease. It is possible that, if the virus were contained in one country, the infection would not be challenged as thoroughly. On a positive note, Cuba’s response is also consistent – it is highly involved in deploying medical staff and resources to affected nations.
Conclusion
The Ebola outbreak revealed that many prosperous countries are reluctant to offer support to an affected nation if the latter cannot provide any commercial benefit. Moreover, it shows how racialization impedes the process of dealing with an outbreak. Canada was among the states that did not offer much medical assistance and closed the border for people from countries affected by the Ebola virus. A similar situation is happening now with COVID-19 and China. However, as most countries are affected, the infection is treated much more seriously.
Works Cited
Jacobs, Merle A., and Awalou Ouedraogo. “Is there Equity in Multiculturalism?” Race In-Equity: Intersectionality, Social Determinants of Health & Human Rights, edited by Awalou Ouedraogo and Merle A. Jacobs, APF Press, 2017, pp. 265-294.
Squire, Jeffrey N. T. “Ebola in West Africa Equity and Human Rights Issues in the Global Response: A Synthesis.” Race In-Equity: Intersectionality, Social Determinants of Health & Human Rights, edited by Awalou Ouedraogo and Merle A. Jacobs, APF Press, 2017, pp. 108-126.
Visano, Brenda Spotton. “Interpretations of Economic Inequality in Canada and Why It Matters for Public Policy.” Race In-Equity: Intersectionality, Social Determinants of Health & Human Rights, edited by Awalou Ouedraogo and Merle A. Jacobs, APF Press, 2017, pp. 190-202.