A changed nation two years after Ebola

As our nation continues to rebuild, we have grown stronger in many ways.. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf , President of the Republic of Liberia.

During the course of 17 devastating months,the Ebola Epidemic  infected nearly 11,000 people in Liberia alone, killing more than 4,800 of them, 192 of whom were doctors, nurses and health practitioners. Today, two years after the World Health Organization declared  an international emergency, and several months since “zero cases” signaled our nightmare was truly over, the question that now keeps many people awake at night is: could it happen all over again?

Without a doubt, the outbreak has had a profound effect on our nation beyond the individual lives affected and taken by this dreadful disease. In the wake of 30 years of civil and political turmoil, Ebola challenged much of the progress we had made in rebuilding the country, leaving Liberia in a weakened state. Our health systems and infrastructure had nearly collapsed, we now have a desperate shortage of health workers, and it will take years for our economy to recover. And yet, despite such challenges, I believe we are indeed now better prepared to cope if Ebola does once again rear its ugly head, thanks largely to the strength of our people.

Even before Ebola struck, much of our basic infrastructure, including roads, water systems and power, was in great need of attention, particularly in rural areas. And now, despite our best efforts to provide better incentives for doctors and nurses, we have struggled to recruit sufficient medical staff in these remote regions.

The challenge is that as we continue with the process of rebuilding, we are doing so from a severely weakened position. Our economy has improved, but we are still not back to our level before the epidemic. Many of the investors that left during the outbreak have not returned. Lingering fears are still keeping them away. This threatens to further weaken us.If there is one thing we have learned from Ebola, it is that disease prevention requires investment.

Looking ahead, we are in a very different place. We still need support, but with the emergency over, Liberia’s fate is no longer determined by a merciless virus. Our people are now better informed about the nature of infectious disease. We have made huge progress in regaining the trust of the people,perhaps more so than Liberia has seen for decades. Indeed, just last month, for the first time in 13 years, Liberia took control of its own security forces. Peace is very much in our hands.

So, despite the incalculable suffering and horror we have endured, my belief is that we have ultimately emerged from this ordeal stronger and more unified. Today, as our nation grieves on this solemn anniversary, we know that we have to take primary responsibility to heal ourselves no one can help us to heal. But on the long road to recovery we will need continued partnership for rebuilding. 

--Ellen Johnson Sirleaf , President of the Republic of Liberia.