African Seminar
Disease and Immunization
To a large extent, countries in Africa are crippled by disease. This is partly because tropical climates are hospitable to diseases, but also because of the unique situation of African countries. Many African countries, especially those in Sub-Saharan Africa, suffer from negligent governments, poor sanitation systems, a lack of medical facilities or supplies, widespread poverty and malnutrition, a lack of clean water, and a lack of education about disease. Africa's countries remain some of the least industrialized in the world; in 2003, the United Nations divulged in their Human Development Report that the 25 least developed nations in the world were all African. 80% of Sub-Saharan Africans live on less than $2.50 per day. In some African countries, less than a third of the population can read and write. African farmers grow only what they need to survive, leaving them vulnerable to famine and starvation. Under these conditions, disease has flourished in Africa.
Africa is victim to a great many diseases, such as Polio, Yellow Fever, Malaria, Diarrhea, diseases caused by malnutrition, and many other contagious diseases. More recently, an epidemic of HIV/AIDS has killed millions of Africans and continues to spread, leaving entire populations dependent on medication and leaving generations of children orphaned. Africa's medical resources and infrastructure are woefully inadequate to deal with the amount of diseased people needing treatment. Steps to institute preventive medicine are being taken, but despite massive campaigns by a variety of organizations, Africans continue to die from preventable diseases.
Organizations use a variety of strategies to reduce the impact of disease in Africa. To eradicate diseases like Yellow Fever, vaccinations can be distributed; for many contagious diseases, this is the most effective way of halting their spread. Other diseases, most notably Malaria, have no available vaccine. To stop the spread of Malaria, some organizations fund research that attempts to find a new vaccine, whereas other organizations attempt to prevent infection via mosquito by distributing bed-nets to Africans who are at risk of infection. Rather than focusing on preventative medicine, some organizations focus on providing African hospitals with the medical supplies that they so desperately need, so that when Africans are infected, they can be treated. To stop the spread of sexually transmitted diseases like HIV/AIDS, many organizations advocate for the distribution of condoms, although this can be highly controversial for religious organizations in Africa.
The United Nations continues to work for the elimination of disease in Africa. Through UNICEF, the United Nations helps provide vaccines, distributes bed-nets, helps with disaster relief, and provides emergency food supplies to areas struck by famine and malnourishment. The WHO, the World Health Organization, acts as a worldwide research agency and information resource about the state of disease in the world. It is crucial that the United Nations plays a role in combating disease in Africa; after all, in many ways, protection from disease is an essential human right.