Health in Africa

THIS STUDY DISCUSSES POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS WHICH MIGHT HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE PROBLEMS, AND IT ALSO EVALUATED THE POSSIBLE EFFECTS OF THIS INTERVENTION. THREE ASPECTS OF HEALTH PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED IN AFRICA ARE: (1) THE PROBLEM FROM THE QUALITY OF LIFE, EQUITY, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PERSPECTIVE; (2) HEALTH STATUS, RESOURCES AND PROGRAMS IN AFRICA; AND (3) SOCIOECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND INCOME DISTRIBUTION. BECAUSE AN INCREASED INCOME LEVEL, SHARED IN AN EQUITABLE WAY, IS ONE OF THE MAJOR OBJECTIVES OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, IMPROVED HEALTH SHOULD RECEIVE SUBSTANTIAL EMPHASIS. DUE TO POOR NUTRITION THE PEOPLE OF AFRICA ARE AFFLICTED WITH A WIDE RANGE OF DISEASES. THIS REPORT DISCUSSES HEALTH STATUS AND NUTRITION AND PRESENTS TABLES WITH DATA ON MAJOR DISEASE PROBLEMS AND CALORIC INTAKE. CHAPTERS ASSESS THE EXTENT OF THE ACTIVITIES OF MULTILATERAL AND BILATERAL AGENCIES IN THE HEALTH PROGRAMS OF AFRICA BY EXAMINING HEALTH INTERVENTION, THE RATIONALE FOR IT, AND AREAS IN WHICH THIS ACTION CAN HAVE A HEALTH IMPACT. SUCH AREAS ARE THE HEALTH SERVICES SECTOR, NUTRITION, FAMILY PLANNING AND DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGE, EDUCATION, AND AGRICULTURE. ALTERNATIVE INTERVENTION APPROACHES ARE ALSO PRESENTED. CONCLUSIONS FROM THE STUDY CONCERNING RECENT A.I.D. POLICY TOWARD HEALTH IN AFRICA ARE: (1) MORE SHOULD BE DONE TO HELP PEOPLE ATTAIN HEALTH AND EDUCATION LEVELS THAT WILL ALLOW THEM TO DEVELOP THEIR OWN INSTITUTIONS. (2) IN ORDER TO GAIN ACCEPTANCE, A POPULATION CONTROL PROGRAM MUST BE PART OF A BROADER BASED PREVENTIVE HEALTH SERVICE PROGRAM. (3) ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS NEED TO PLACE MORE EMPHASIS ON CONTRIBUTING TO THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF PEOPLE IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES.