Saving Sub-Sahara Africa

Saving Sub-Sahara Africa

Today the forty-seven countries that make up Sub-Sahara Africa are considered some of the poorest countries in the world . Sub-Sahara Africa has more than half of its seven hundred million people living on less than one dollar a day. It is expected however, that by the year 2025 the region will have over a billion people residing there . Ultimately without a drastic change in the regions sociopolitical and economic sectors, it is safe to assure that the majority of the expected population will be living in poverty. Because of poverty there is no current working health care system which is why the HIV/AIDS epidemic has hit the region so hard. Similarly with poverty come many other issues such as Environmental and cultural issues. Simply throwing money at the region will not end the current problems or make the country any richer, however. The end of poverty requires dedication from the current African government to help lead and construct a safer more unified Africa. Even with the regions financial situation looking very bleak, Sub-Sahara Africa posted its strongest level of overall GDP growth in eight years topping 5% . Countries such as Mozambique, Tanzania and Senegal harbor the strongest and most robust growth rates, proving that economic independence and growth is plausible. Sociopolitical issues plaguing the region range from corrupt governments to Environmental instability. In the past, Aid awarded to many African nations for assistance during famine or war was ultimately squandered by the African governments. What resulted was a lack of wanted involvement by the international governments in the aiding of Africa's economic growth. By creating a system of checks and balances by way of a regional committee to ensure that all Sub-Saharan governments are doing what is morally and economically right for their people, it may be possible to curb some of the corruption present. Also the regional committee could help prevent conflict and bring the many countries together to form some policy against the spread of HIV/AIDS, a problem that transcends all borders and is a major reason for the poor conditions that Africans endure. Consequently the numerous Environmental issues in Africa help perpetuate poverty. Environmental issues include air and water pollution, deforestation, loss of soil and soil fertility . Many of these issues have to do with the lack of efficient resources. The use of wood for fuel is prevalent in the region, making Africa one of the largest consumers of biomass in the world . Ultimately in order for Sub-Sahara Africa to get out of poverty there needs to be a continued focus on government infrastructure, more focus needs to be placed on the environment and an investment climate must be enabled so that businesses could flourish and ultimately produce economical growth.

I. Social Programs

Currently, there are not any social programs in Sub-Sahara Africa protecting the poor or even assisting them with the current impoverished situation. If a family's assets are protected by social protection, a household is able to return to productive activity faster in times of crisis. Thus there needs to be healthcare reformation, disability, allowances and pensions in order for there to be true economic growth. If the workforce is healthy and educated, economic growth can be achieved. Between 1970 and 1980 slow growth, economic decline and rising debt caused the African governments to destabilize finances for public institutions . Ultimately the population continued to grow very rapidly however budget cuts were made with respect to health centers and schools. The spread of HIV/AIDS only perpetuated the problem and added to the burden of the health centers that were already struggling to deal with malaria, Tuberculosis, gastrointestinal diseases and much other disease typical of the region. One and a half million children die each year of vaccine-preventable illnesses. It is believed that many Africans could live healthier, longer lives through micronutrient supplements, such as iron, vitamin A and zinc. However the African governments can not afford such supplements. Currently, the African government is spending 13 dollars per person on health care in comparison to the United States two thousand dollar per person budget. The sick typically pay out of pocket and go through private organizations to get drugs . The Commission for Macroeconomics and Health recommended that spending should rise to34 dollars per person by 2007 and to 38 dollars by 2015, and come mostly from government spending. The 38 dollars per person represents the minimum amount required to deliver basic health care for major diseases such as HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and malaria . Similarly, it is believed that by increasing government spending on health care, the amount of individuals dying from curable diseases will fall dramatically. Ultimately drugs should be made more affordable and more available to Africans. According to Tony Blair's Commission for Africa,

"The World Trade Organization's TRIPS agreement contains important flexibilities that can be used to access medicines, including through the use of a compulsory license allowing local producers to make patent protected medicines. In August 2003, the WTO agreed to allow countries without the ability to make these medicines in their own country to obtain a license for them to be made in another country that has the capacity. Although its impact is not yet known, this should be an important way of maintaining access to cheaper drugs ".

The United States has pledged to give Africa 4.5 billion dollars over the next three years to help combat HIV/AIDS; this will also help the African governments cover the phenomenal cost of health care as well. However, even with cheaper drugs and an increased government spending on health care, there needs to be educated doctors, physicians, nurses and other health professionals. However higher education and workforce training is practically non existent in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Although between the years of 1990 and 2000 Africa's literacy rates increased by 38%, some 47 million African children are not going to school . With Africa's population growing at a 2.7 percent increase every year, a percentage much higher than that of South Asia and the Pacific regions, education is key toward building a better future for its inhabitants . Currently many Sub-Saharan governments charge a fee for all types of education whether primary, secondary or advanced career training. In order to increase enrollment, the African government must get rid of the fees. In Uganda, the fees were removed and the female student population more than doubled, proving that the reason most African children do not go to school is