Treatable diseases kill millions of Africans

MILLIONS of mothers, newborn babies and children die each year in Africa from preventable diseases despite promises of better healthcare by governments and donor countries, says the World Health Organisation (WHO) Because of AIDS and armed conflicts, the health situation in many countries has not improved in recent years and in some cases has worsened.

Calling it Africa’s “silent epidemic,” the WHO said African countries accounted for 19 of the 20 countries with the highest rates of maternal mortality worldwide. It has the highest death rate worldwide for babies up to a month old, 43 per 1 000 live births or four times the rate in Europe, the WHO said.While highlighting some successes, such as Uganda’s AIDS programme and Mali’s community health centres, the report spells out the health challenges facing the 46 countries belonging to its Africa region.”We know what the challenges are, and we know how to address them – but we also recognise that Africa’s fragile health systems represent an enormous barrier,” said Louis Gomes Sambo, WHO’s regional director for Africa.HIV-AIDS continues to devastate Africa, while more than 90 per cent of the estimated 300 to 500 million malaria cases that occur worldwide, mainly children under 5, are in Africa.Non-communicable diseases such as heart disease and diabetes, more usually associated with better-off countries, are also beginning to take a heavy toll.Nevertheless, there are some bright spots.River blindness has been all but eliminated and 33 of the 42 countries most affected by malaria have adopted the artemisinin-based combination therapy, which is the most effective, the WHO said.Polio is close to eradication and measles deaths have declined more than 50 per cent since 1999.Nampa-ReutersIt has the highest death rate worldwide for babies up to a month old, 43 per 1 000 live births or four times the rate in Europe, the WHO said.While highlighting some successes, such as Uganda’s AIDS programme and Mali’s community health centres, the report spells out the health challenges facing the 46 countries belonging to its Africa region.”We know what the challenges are, and we know how to address them – but we also recognise that Africa’s fragile health systems represent an enormous barrier,” said Louis Gomes Sambo, WHO’s regional director for Africa.HIV-AIDS continues to devastate Africa, while more than 90 per cent of the estimated 300 to 500 million malaria cases that occur worldwide, mainly children under 5, are in Africa.Non-communicable diseases such as heart disease and diabetes, more usually associated with better-off countries, are also beginning to take a heavy toll.Nevertheless, there are some bright spots.River blindness has been all but eliminated and 33 of the 42 countries most affected by malaria have adopted the artemisinin-based combination therapy, which is the most effective, the WHO said.Polio is close to eradication and measles deaths have declined more than 50 per cent since 1999.Nampa-Reuters