Dr. Chidiebere Christopher Ajunwa, a Nigerian physician and infectious disease specialist, has gained international recognition for his contributions to epidemic preparedness, disease surveillance, contact tracing, infection prevention, and emergency-response operations during some of West Africa’s most significant public health emergencies. His work in Liberia and Sierra Leone, particularly during and after the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) epidemic, has provided important lessons for policymakers seeking to strengthen epidemic preparedness and health-system resilience across Africa.

In this interview, Dr. Ajunwa discusses the importance of prevention-focused public health strategies, effective contact-tracing systems, healthcare-worker protection, logistics coordination, and outbreak preparedness. Drawing from his experience as a Medical Officer with the African Union Support to Ebola Outbreak in West Africa (ASEOWA) mission and his subsequent international deployment to Sierra Leone under the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps Programme, he shares practical insights that can help governments better prepare for future infectious disease emergencies.

How did your experience during the Ebola outbreak in Liberia shape your understanding of infectious disease management and epidemic preparedness?

My experience in Liberia fundamentally changed my perspective on public health emergency management. Ebola demonstrated that epidemic control begins long before the first patient enters a hospital. Effective disease surveillance systems, early-warning mechanisms, community engagement, healthcare-worker training, and logistics preparedness are often more important than treatment alone.

While serving as a Medical Officer under the African Union Support to Ebola Outbreak in West Africa (ASEOWA) mission, I participated in infection-control implementation, patient management, health promotion, emergency care, and outbreak-response activities. One lesson that became clear was that prevention is significantly less costly than containment. Once widespread transmission occurs, the demands on healthcare systems become enormous.

The experience reinforced the importance of strengthening public health systems before outbreaks occur. Countries that invest in surveillance, laboratory capacity, emergency preparedness planning, and workforce development are better positioned to contain infectious diseases before they become national crises.

Contact tracing played a major role in controlling Ebola. Why is it so important in managing infectious disease outbreaks?

Contact tracing is one of the most effective tools available in epidemic control. During infectious disease outbreaks, identifying infected individuals alone is not enough. Public health authorities must also identify everyone who may have been exposed, monitor them, and intervene before additional transmission occurs.

During the Ebola response, contact tracing allowed health authorities to interrupt transmission chains and prevent isolated cases from becoming widespread community outbreaks. Effective contact tracing requires coordination among clinicians, epidemiologists, laboratory personnel, public health officials, and community leaders.

The lessons from Ebola remain highly relevant today. Whether dealing with Ebola, Lassa Fever, COVID-19, Mpox, or future emerging infectious diseases, rapid identification of contacts remains essential for outbreak containment.

For policymakers, investment in digital surveillance systems, trained field epidemiologists, community health workers, and data-management infrastructure is critical for strengthening national outbreak-response capacity.

You have worked in both Liberia and Sierra Leone. What common challenges did you observe in outbreak preparedness across West Africa?

Several recurring challenges emerged.

First, healthcare facilities often face shortages of trained personnel and infection-control resources during emergencies.

Second, transportation and logistics systems can become major obstacles during outbreaks. Delays in moving patients, laboratory samples, medical supplies, and emergency-response teams can significantly affect containment efforts.

Third, misinformation and public distrust frequently undermine response activities. Communities are more likely to cooperate when public-health messaging is transparent, culturally appropriate, and delivered by trusted local leaders.

Finally, healthcare-worker protection remains essential. Epidemics can quickly weaken healthcare systems if frontline personnel become infected. Ensuring adequate training, personal protective equipment, and infection-control protocols should always be a national priority.

What role does logistics play in successful epidemic response?

Logistics is often overlooked, but it is one of the foundations of effective outbreak management.

An outbreak response depends on the timely availability of medical supplies, laboratory equipment, protective gear, medications, transportation, communication systems, and trained personnel. Even the most skilled healthcare professionals cannot function effectively without proper logistical support.

During Ebola response operations, logistics influenced virtually every aspect of containment efforts, from transporting patients to maintaining treatment centers and supporting surveillance teams.

For governments, investing in emergency logistics planning is just as important as investing in clinical care. Preparedness requires stockpiles, transportation networks, supply-chain systems, and emergency coordination structures that can be activated rapidly during crises.

During your service in Liberia, you reportedly led a team of healthcare professionals from multiple African countries. What lessons did you learn about international collaboration?

One of the most important lessons was that infectious diseases do not respect national borders.

The Ebola epidemic demonstrated that regional cooperation is essential for effective outbreak control. While serving in Liberia, I had the opportunity to work alongside healthcare professionals from different African countries, each bringing unique expertise and experiences.

Successful epidemic management requires collaboration among governments, international organizations, healthcare institutions, and local communities. Information sharing, coordinated surveillance systems, and cross-border preparedness mechanisms are all necessary components of modern public health security.

The African Union Ebola mission demonstrated the value of regional solidarity and collective action when responding to large-scale public health emergencies.

What policy lessons from Ebola remain relevant today?

Many of the lessons remain extremely relevant.

First, countries should prioritize disease surveillance and early detection systems.

Second, governments should invest in healthcare-worker training and continuous emergency preparedness exercises.

Third, infection-prevention and control measures must be integrated into routine healthcare operations rather than activated only during emergencies.

Fourth, policymakers should strengthen public-health infrastructure at the community level because outbreaks are often detected first in local health facilities.

Finally, governments should maintain emergency-response capacity even during periods when no major outbreaks are occurring. Preparedness is most effective when it is continuous rather than reactive.

How can Nigeria strengthen its readiness for future epidemics and public health emergencies?

Nigeria has made significant progress since the 2014 Ebola outbreak, but continued investment is necessary.

Priority areas include strengthening disease-surveillance systems, expanding laboratory capacity, improving healthcare-worker training, modernizing public-health data systems, and enhancing emergency logistics networks.

Equally important is community engagement. Public trust plays a major role in outbreak control. Effective risk communication, health education, and collaboration with community leaders can significantly improve public compliance with prevention measures.

The goal should be to build a health system capable of rapidly detecting, responding to, and containing infectious disease threats before they become large-scale emergencies.

Looking back on your international service in Liberia and Sierra Leone, what accomplishment are you most proud of?

What I value most is contributing to efforts that helped protect communities during one of the most challenging public health crises in modern history.

The successful containment of Ebola required extraordinary commitment from healthcare workers, public-health professionals, governments, and international organizations. I am honored to have contributed to those efforts through clinical service, infection-control implementation, healthcare-worker support, outbreak preparedness, and public-health response activities.

Most importantly, the experience reinforced my belief that strong surveillance systems, prevention-focused policies, rapid response mechanisms, and international cooperation remain the most effective tools for protecting populations from future infectious disease threats.

About Dr. Chidiebere Christopher Ajunwa

Dr. Chidiebere Christopher Ajunwa is a Nigerian physician with extensive experience in infectious disease management, outbreak preparedness, infection prevention and control, emergency-response coordination, and public health systems strengthening. He served as a Medical Officer with the African Union Support to Ebola Outbreak in West Africa (ASEOWA) mission in Liberia and was subsequently deployed to Sierra Leone under the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps Programme. His contributions to Ebola containment efforts earned formal recognition from the African Union Commission and the Government of Liberia, reflecting the international impact of his work in epidemic preparedness and disease-control operations across West Africa.