EHA Founders Podcast: The Nigerian Ebola Response | Episode 05

Release Date: November 7, 2022

In Episode 05 of the EHA Founders Podcast, hosts Evelyn Castle and Adam Thompson delve into their firsthand experiences managing the Ebola response in Nigeria during the 2014 outbreak. They explore the challenges they faced, the strategies they employed, and the lessons learned, drawing insightful comparisons to the COVID-19 pandemic response. This detailed summary captures the essence of their engaging conversation, enriched with notable quotes and timestamps for reference.

1. Introduction to the Ebola Response in Nigeria

Evelyn Castle opens the discussion by recounting the initial shock upon hearing about Ebola's presence in Nigeria in 2014. She emphasizes the significance of this episode, describing it as her favorite conversation to date.

Evelyn Castle [00:00]: "Ebola is in Nigeria. Those words had me freaking out back in 2014."

2. Initial Reaction and Awareness

Evelyn and Adam share their early awareness of the Ebola outbreak, highlighting their initial observations through news reports about concerts in Guinea leading to suspected cases.

Evelyn Castle [01:19]: "I remember thinking to myself, like, what the hell is happening? Like that an Ebola patient is at a concert."

Adam reflects on his calm demeanor during the initial spread, influenced by his perception of the CDC's capabilities.

Adam Thompson [02:03]: "I remember being quite calm about it even as it was spreading, thinking, okay, well, this is what they do. They'll get this under control."

3. Planning and Preparations

As the outbreak persisted, Evelyn recalls ramping up their planning efforts in August, outlining potential responses and strategies to contain the virus.

Evelyn Castle [04:55]: "We really started planning for, like, what happens if the outbreak continues."

Adam agrees, noting the rapid spread potential given Nigeria's connectivity.

Adam Thompson [04:13]: "Given how much people move, it could have been all over the country pretty quickly."

4. On-Site Response Efforts in Lagos

The duo discusses their active involvement in Lagos, focusing on setting up Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs), ensuring communication infrastructure, and managing logistics.

Adam Thompson [13:57]: "It was the whole handful of things. It was figuring out what the physical infrastructure was going to look like."

They highlight the importance of private sector contributions, such as donations from Airtel and Oando, which were crucial in sustaining their efforts.

Adam Thompson [15:32]: "Airtel donated a bunch of phones for the contact tracers. Oando donated the fuel."

5. Funding Challenges and Administrative Hurdles

Evelyn recounts the financial struggles they encountered, including delays and discrepancies in promised funding from organizations like the Gates Foundation and Dangote Group.

Evelyn Castle [20:29]: "BMGF told us that they would front the cost... That money never came out of that."

Adam expresses his frustration over the unreliable funding mechanisms, which severely hindered their operations.

Adam Thompson [22:38]: "And they basically just balanced it. We were like, this is how much we spent. And they just put it back in our account."

6. Impact of Misinformation and Public Response

The hosts discuss the rampant misinformation during the Ebola outbreak, drawing parallels to the COVID-19 pandemic, and its detrimental effects on public health responses.

Evelyn Castle [09:06]: "I remember the cleaner being like, my mom called me at 4am and she said I had to wash the children and myself in salt."

Adam criticizes the inadequacies in the CDC's response capabilities, comparing them unfavorably to their expectations.

Adam Thompson [04:15]: "I think that vision of CDC was from the movies... it's like, oh, these super teams."

7. Lessons Learned and Organizational Growth

Reflecting on their experiences, Evelyn and Adam emphasize the critical role of effective leadership and the necessity of streamlined funding processes in emergency responses.

Adam Thompson [28:27]: "If Ebola had really spread, I think it would have been probably all over the country pretty quickly."

Evelyn shares her personal growth journey, noting how managing the Ebola response independently boosted her confidence and leadership skills.

Evelyn Castle [47:23]: "I was running the entire company basically by myself while you were running the Ebola response in Lagos."

8. Regrets and Missed Opportunities

Both founders candidly discuss aspects they wish they had handled differently, such as better leveraging their role for increased funding and enhancing their contact tracing systems.

Adam Thompson [49:40]: "We could have played a more central role in coordinating those as well. And that probably would have led to more income during the thing."

9. Comparison to COVID-19 Response

The conversation transitions to comparing the Ebola response with Nigeria's COVID-19 strategy, highlighting persistent bureaucratic inefficiencies and public mistrust.

Evelyn Castle [12:50]: "If Covid had you bleeding out of your eyes, you would have the exact same response to that."

Adam underscores the lack of preparedness despite lessons from Ebola, criticizing the government's fragmented response during COVID-19.

Adam Thompson [35:17]: "We're still pretending like they can respond to an outbreak, even though we proved that they couldn't during Ebola."

10. Future Preparedness and Global Leadership

Looking ahead, the hosts express concern over Nigeria's ability to handle future outbreaks, lamenting the erosion of effective response structures and increased public skepticism.

Adam Thompson [36:58]: "I think that really also had a big impact. There was all the private sector work on Ebola... but now they were trying everything, but didn't have the money."

Evelyn Castle [38:32]: "I don't think that people will do what they're told to do. I don't think that they'll believe if it comes back."

11. Personal Anecdotes and Memorable Moments

Throughout the episode, Evelyn and Adam share vivid recollections of challenging moments, such as unpaid ambulance drivers storming the EOC and the grim state of public health labs.

Adam Thompson [43:39]: "I remember having to call the woman that was at that foundation... and then the money came from some rich bank person."

Evelyn Castle [45:00]: "They had some labs running down at the bottom, but they didn't do, like, incineration."

12. Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Evelyn wraps up the episode by reflecting on their growth as independent leaders and the critical importance of effective emergency response systems.

Evelyn Castle [48:30]: "It was a really good growth experience... I was running the entire company basically by myself."

Adam echoes her sentiments, stressing the need to recognize and eliminate toxic behaviors within organizations to foster resilience.

Adam Thompson [49:13]: "People are really toxic... just immediately ending it."

The episode concludes with a call to action for listeners to subscribe and stay informed about EHA Impact Ventures' journey and impact investing in Africa.

Key Takeaways:

• Effective Coordination and Infrastructure: Establishing robust Emergency Operations Centers and reliable communication systems are paramount in managing outbreaks.

• Private Sector Partnership: Collaboration with private entities can bridge funding and resource gaps, proving essential when governmental support falters.

• Financial Reliability: Transparent and prompt funding mechanisms are crucial to sustain emergency efforts and prevent operational breakdowns.

• Combatting Misinformation: Proactive strategies to counter misinformation can significantly influence public cooperation and health outcomes.

• Leadership and Organizational Health: Strong leadership and a healthy organizational culture are vital for navigating crises and ensuring long-term resilience.

• Learning from the Past: Despite valuable lessons from the Ebola response, systemic issues hindered Nigeria's COVID-19 response, highlighting the need for continual improvement in emergency preparedness.

This episode offers a profound exploration of crisis management in Nigeria, providing invaluable insights for entrepreneurs, public health professionals, and anyone interested in effective emergency response strategies. Evelyn Castle and Adam Thompson's candid reflections serve as both a testament to their resilience and a lesson on the complexities of managing health crises in resource-constrained environments.