Looking at the Ebola epidemic in West Africa through a gender lens

The rampant spread of Ebola in West Africa has disproportionately affected women. First, Ebola is a care-giver’s disease, transmission generally occurs through caring for the sick—washing bodies, bed clothes etc.; jobs that generally fall to mothers and wives. Indeed, more than half of those who have succumbed to the virus have been women.  Second, the front line health professionals shoulder the largest volume of patients and are least well trained and equipped. These workers are predominantly women. Third, pregnant women, have been particularly vulnerable to the collapse of an already weak health system in the setting of the Ebola crisis. Lastly, women have borne the lion share of the social burden of the epidemic, from re-integration of survivors, absorption of orphans and caring for children as schools are shuttered and markets closed. The non-governmental organization Partners In Health launched its efforts in Liberia and Sierra Leone in September of 2014 with the goals of both responding to the Ebola epidemic and helping to re-build health systems. The pillars of this strategy include support for affected communities, and hiring and training community heath workers (many of whom are Ebola survivors and affected women), support for the public health facilities—with special attention to women’s health needs, and building capacity of health workers (particularly nurses) through formal training programs.  This presentation will highlight the gendered nature of the risk and burden of Ebola and suggest programmatic steps to support women in the crisis and as it wanes.