Children and Poverty

Child poverty in Africa: the facts

• 200,000 child slaves are sold every year in Africa. There are an estimated 8,000 girl-slaves in West Africa alone. (sources: BBC 5 October, 2001 & Anti-Slavery Society)
• About 120,000 African children are participating in armed conflicts. Some are as young as 7 years old. (source: Africa Children’s Charter)
• Children account for half of all civilian casualties in wars in Africa. (source: Africa 2015)
• One in six African children dies before the age of five. Most of these deaths could be prevented. (source: Africa 2015)
• Nearly one third of children in Sub-Saharan Africa are underweight. (source: UNICEF)
• In sub-Saharan Africa, measles takes the life of a child nearly every minute of every day. An effective measles vaccine costs as little as $1 per child. (source: UNICEF)
• Between 12 and 14 million African children have been orphaned by HIV/AIDS. (source: World Bank/UNICEF)
• Nearly 2 million children under 14 years old are HIV positive. (source: UNICEF)
• 43% of children in Sub-Saharan Africa do not have safe, accessible drinking water. (source: UNICEF)
• 64% of children in Sub-Saharan Africa do not have adequate sanitation. (source: UNICEF)
• Only 57% of African children are enrolled in primary education, and one in three of those does not complete school. (source: Africa 2015)
• For every 100 boys there are only 83 girls enrolled at primary school. (source: World Bank)
• The above information is available at www.standupforafrica.org.uk/projects/facts

Go to the following website for you to see the impact of poverty on children and the dynamics of childhood poverty. www.futureofchildren.org

Did you know?

• Between 1973 and 1979, child poverty was at 12%
• 1979 - 1983, child poverty rose to 18%
• In the 1990s, poverty was at 21%

The world economy is improving but child poverty is getting worse.

According to the www.nccp.org/topics/chilpoverty.html, 13 million children in America live in poverty. This is 17% of all children.

Poverty affects childrern's

• Ability to learn
• Physical health
• Mental health

You can also visit the following websites for more information:
childtrendsdatabank.org, www.un.org,

Poverty & Ageing In Africa

You owe it to yourself to read this book "Bridges Out Of Poverty" by Payne! I recommend that you get your own copy. You will not regret having your own copy as a health worker. Also check their website at www.ahaprocess.com

Poverty and Ageing in Africa

Ageing in Africa is both an economic and social problem. Why?

• The bread winners are dying due to HIV/AIDS (20-55 years old).
• Grand parents are forced to take over parental roles.
• Their own needs are neglected.
• Follow these links for more information http://books.nap.edu/openbook.php, http://findarticles.com, www.nai.uu.se/events/conferences/ageing/index.xml

The situation of poverty and ageing in Africa is compounded by the fact that the few healthy productive people migrate to developed countries for better wages and living conditions. This results in;

• Lack of family support for the elderly, hence lonely.
• Lack of a family support system leads to development of NCDs such as high blood pressure, depression, and many other problems.
• Lack of family support also results in poor nutrition http://jn.nutrition.org/cgi.reprint.

A combination of old age and poverty is dangerous. Whereas the life expectancy in Africa is around 35 years, this figure does not account for the outliers. These are people that live up to 100 years. For example, my own grandmother is well over 110 years. The challenges are:

• Lack of proper medical and nutritional care,
• Isolation leads to dispair,
• Dispair leads to NCDs

Obesity In America

Did you know that obesity is now an economic problem in America?

• Obesity costs America $122.9 billion in direct costs.
• Obesity related conditions costs $1o2 million.
• Go to http://www.obesityinamerica.org/ for more information.

Visit the following links for causes of obesity www.medicinenet.com/obesity, http://www.poweredbychoice.org/

There are support and advocacy groups for obese people. Visit these sites http://www.obesityresearch.org/, http://www.nlm.nih.gov/,

Obesity has physical as well as psychological effects on children. Visit this site http://www.kidshealth.org/

What are the signs and symptoms of obesity? Visit these sites http://www.healthscout.com/, http://www.naaso.org/

There is a lot of help out there. Visit http://www.obesityhelp.com/, http://www.obesityfocused.com/

The American government is doing a lot to control this prblem. Visit this site: www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/obesity/index.htm

HIV/AIDS: Update on Africa

• According to The Global Health Report, 39.5 million people were living with HIV/AIDS in 2005. Follow these links for more information http://www.unaids.org/ http://www.globalhealthreporting.org/

• According to the World Vision, 6000 children become AIDS orphans daily. If the current situation is not addressed by 2020, 9 out of every 10 children will be AIDS orphans. This will be an economic, health, cultural, and educational catastrophy. The World Vision has been active in Africa for many years now. They conduct programs to help HIV/AIDS victoms. http://www.worldvision.org/

• It is interesting to note that poverty is both a cause and consequence of HIV/AIDS. http://www.care.org/

• Did you know that every 14 seconds, a child loses a parent to AIDS? If the situation continues without intervention, 9 out of every 10 children will be AIDS orphans. http://www.projectconcern.org/

• Look at these troubling statistics. Two thirds of people living with HIV/AIDS live in Sub Saharan Africa, yet the region only has 10% of the world population, and receives 2% of the WHO financial help. www.avert.org/aidsinafrica.htm

Malaria in Sub Saharan Africa

Did you know?

• Malaria causes low birth weight.


• Kills 3,000 children every day in Sub Saharan Africa.


• This equals to 90 000 children in a month - the size of a football field!

Malaria is transmitted by mosqitos. See below pictures of a mosquitos.

Follow the given links and learn more about this deadly but easily treatable disease.

Controversial Cultural Health Practices in the GH Arena

There are several cultural health practices that are detrimental to the health of people. These harmful practices include (source http://www.icmer.org/) ;

• Female genital mutilation - Africa
• Early marriage - Asia, Middle East, Africa
• Severely restricted weight gain during pregnancy - Philippines, China, France, Guinea Bissau
• Postpartum nutritional restrictions - Latin America
• "Dry sex" - Africa, Latin America, South East Asia
• Virginity testing - Southern Africa

Statistics

• 2 million girls are at risk of female genital mutilation (FGM) each year.
• FGM is practiced in 26 African countries.
• Prevalence - from 98% in Somalia, 97% in Egypt to 5% in Uganda.
• Practice is also found in Yemen, parts of Indian Malaysia, Indonesia and UAE.

In 1995, WHO developed 4 categories of FGM which include removal of the clitoral hood, removal of the clitoris with part or all of the labia minora, removal of clitoris, labia minora, labia majora, and stitching the vaginal opening to narrow it. These procedures are not reversible and can lead to death. FGM has a lot of immediate and long term complications which include bleeding, infection and damage to the adjoining organs. It also increases the risk of HIV infection.

Follow the given links for information on other practices.

Controversial cultural practices being currently addressed in the GH arena

Watch for this topic next week!

Do not miss this exciting and controversial topic!