Health Security - Role of the Security Sector in Combating the 2014 Ebola Outbreak in Sierra Leone

Abstract

This study assessed the role of the security sector in combating the 2014 Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone. In achieving the overall goal of the study, the assessment broadly covered the following: examined the national response structure before the outbreak; the emergence of Ebola and conspiracy theories in Sierra Leone, ascertained the early national Ebola response structure; the transition and composition to a new response architecture; assessed the effectiveness of policies and strategies by the security sector in combating Ebola; ascertained whether the effects of policies and strategies implored by the security sector in response to the outbreak; evaluated the impact of civil-military relations in combating the outbreak; and in the end examined the overall challenges in terms of the security sector's roles, and policies and strategies implored in responding to the outbreak. These areas broadly correspond to some of the objectives in response to the security sector's roles. Based on findings from assessing the areas stated above, the study has argued that the role played by the security sector in combating the 2014 Ebola outbreak have been largely effective. But while the role of the security sector has been largely positive, but this is not without many other factors - notably without the...