Health Issues in Africa Essay Example

is not necessarily due to solely to HIV and AIDS, but it is young adults, the age group that is most affected by AIDS, who is particularly shouldering the burden of increasing mortality rate. This is a strong indicator that AIDS is a major, if not the principal; factor in the overall rising number of deaths. South Africa HIV and AIDS epidemic has had a devastating on children in a number of ways there was an estimated 280,000 under -15s living with HIV in 2007, a figure that almost doubled since 2001.

HIV is transmitted redominantly heterosexually between couples, with mother-to-child transmission being the other main infection route. The national transmission rate of HIV from mother to child is 11%. In most instances the virus was transmitted from the child’s mother. Consequently, the HIV infected child is born into a family where the virus may have already had a severe impact on health, income, productivity and the ability to care for each other. The loss of a parent not only has an immense emotional impact on the children but for most families can spell financial hardship.

A Mother to child transmission of HIV accounts for the vast majority of children who are infected with HIV.

If a woman already has HIV then her baby may become infected during pregnancy or delivery. HIV can also be transmitted through breast milk. Aside from mother to child transmission, some children are exposed to HIV in medial settings; for instance through needles that have not been sterilized or blood transfusion where infected blood is used. In some countries children have been infected with HIV through sexual abuse and rape.

This is a significant problem in many areas.

For instance, in parts of Africa, the myth that HIV can be cured through sex with a virgin has led to a large number of rapes - sometimes of very young children – by infected men. In some cases young children are coerced into sex work, which can put them at a very high risk of becoming infected with HIV. Once children are infected with HIV, they face a high chance of illness or death, unless they can successfully be provided with treatment. There are two main things that you can do to help families with cope with the burden of HIV.

The first is to provide treatment to family members who are infected.

Although antiretroviral drugs are still not able in many resource-poor areas, a child family member may be able to reach a clinic or hospital that can provide these drugs. The second thing that can be done is to provide family members with HIV is to provide them with knowledge and resources - such as condoms that can help them stay uninfected. Children who have lost their parents due to AID may be in a particular need of support and care. Many organizations focus on providing care and support to AIDS orphan and other children made vulnerable by HIV and AIDS.

This may involve in providing food and help with looking after siblings, or sick family members, and help to ensure that children are able to attend school. It is clear that much more needs to be done to help children and families affected by HIV/AID in resource-poor countries. Malaria in Africa Malaria is

a life threatening disease caused by parasites that are transmitted to people through bites of infected mosquitoes. In 2008, malaria caused nearly one million deaths, mostly among African children but malaria is preventable and curable.

In 2008 Africa, there were 247 million cases of malaria and nearly one million deaths –mostly children under the age of five. Malaria is a disease caused by the blood parasite Plasmodium, which is transmitted by mosquitoes. Malaria is only transmitted through female mosquitoes of the genus Anopheles. Most female mosquitoes are nocturnal feeders (that is they only bite at night). Malaria is particularly devastating in Africa, where it is a leading killer in children.

In fact, there are 10 new cases of malaria every second. Every 30 seconds a child, in Africa dies from a malaria infection.

Malaria has been brought under control and even eliminated in many parts of Asia, Europe and the Americans. Yet, in Africa with increasing drug resistance and struggling health systems, malaria infections has increased over the last three decades. Malaria remains one of the deadliest diseases on the African continent; infections can be prevented either by spraying insecticides indoors or either by sleeping under long-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets.

Additionally anti-malarial drugs, such as artemisinin and other combination therapy (if used early enough) can be used to treat malaria once it is contracted.

Malaria is more common in children and adults with HIV, pregnant women and children. Smoking Related Diseases in Africa Africa is already beleaguered by infectious diseases such as AIDS and malaria, but know the continents residence face growing health threats from preventable illnesses brought on by lifestyle changes, such as from

poor diets and smoking. In an effort to stave off these maladies, advocates have turned their sights on tobacco use, which is on the rise throughout Africa and projected to double by 2021. Of the approximately one billion people across the world who uses tobacco, 60 million to 80 million live in Africa.

Along for lobbying for higher tobacco taxes and broader public health messages, advocates are hoping to eliminate smoking in public places in an effort to protect people from both first and second hand smoke.

Although smoking rates in Africa are still relatively low, tobacco use are rising faster in Africa than anywhere else in the world. Anti-smoking campaigns are just beginning in African countries, and the transnational tobacco companies are actively opposing them. An epidemic tobacco related disease – related disease would impose a huge economic burden on Africa and create yet another obstacle to development.

The continents overwhelmed and underfunded health services are already struggling to provide basic health care.

Tobacco use is a significant cause of death and disease in South Africa. Eight percent of all deaths or almost 50,000 South African deaths per year are a direct result of smoking. In South Africa, smoking is the third leading cause of death. Out of 100 smoking – related deaths in South Africa 28 were from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 19 were from tuberculosis, 13 were form lung cancer, 12 were from ischemic heart disease, and 10 were from cancer of the lip, mouth pharynx, and esophagus.

There were many more to the facet of tobacco which is stroke and vascular disease and 9 from other conditions.

Tuberculosis in Africa Tuberculosis

constitutes one-quarter of all avoidable deaths in South Africa; TB is a public health problem of epidemic proportion. Poor compliance and frequent interruption to treatment are associated with increased transmission rates, morbidity, and costs to TB control programs. Tuberculosis was introduced in Africa in 17th century by the arrival of