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The Importance of Medical Development in Africa
The fragility of the healthcare system across African countries is staggering. The poor public heath of Africans is linked directly to inadequate health systems, ineffective management of health resources, natural disasters, and extreme poverty.
Ill health is the cornerstone of poverty. Improvement in health across the African population will not only see a decrease in morbidity and mortality rates, it will also contribute to increased social progress and economic growth.
Deaths in Africa are frequently a result of either preventable and/or treatable conditions such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. Access to immunizations, drugs, diagnostic methods and health infrastructure would see a decline in both the infection and subsequent numbers of deaths.
Population growth and the HIV/AIDS epidemic across the continent have seen further strain on already limited health resources. Health infrastructure has been unable to adapt effectively to cope with this high demand.
Health care systems will not function without sufficient numbers of people to operate them. The HIV/AIDS epidemic alone has contributed greatly to the decline in the number of healthcare workers within Africa.
In some African countries there is less then one nurse, one physician, and one midwife per 1000 of the population. There is an imperative need for the recruitment, retention and utilization of such resources domestically and internationally.
You can make a difference by entering a partnership, donating or volunteering.