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The Role of Volunteering in Combating Epidemics in the ECOWAS Region

The fight against any pandemic requires the involvement of many people and goes beyond the use of healthcare staff alone. Indeed, in the face of crises in general, and health crises in particular – such as epidemics – societies must develop their own solutions. Volunteering is one of the key ways to involve all citizens in the fight against pandemics, as volunteering is part of the social fabric of all societies. One of the most recent examples of the contribution of volunteering to health issues is the Global Initiative for Polio Eradication in the year 2000. Ten million people volunteered to support the vaccination of 550 million children. The vast majority were citizens who were concerned about the children’s wellbeing and therefore volunteered in their own communities. They gave their time to ensure that the children turned up at the vaccination centres, that they were properly registered and received the oral vaccine. The total value of the support provided by the volunteers has been estimated at $10 billion, far beyond the means of governments or international and national organisations. The recent COVID-19 pandemic has once again demonstrated the importance of volunteering in the fight against this pandemic. In a series of publications, we will highlight the contribution of volunteers in the fight against epidemics.