Health issues in sub-Saharan Africa & Link between health and water security

Question 1

True or false? Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest infant mortality rates in the world

Answer 1

True

Question 2

True or false? During the period of MDGs not much progress on improving health was made

Answer 2

False

Question 3

What country did we study that is facing the impact of malaria?

Answer 3

Malawi

Question 4

What are the causes of Malaria in this country?

Answer 4

The shores of Lake Malawi are perfect breeding conditions for mosquitoes due to the warm, stagnant water

Question 5

Why are people more vulnerable to Malaria in rural areas?

Answer 5

Houses are constructed of mud bricks and thatched roofs which offer little protection from mosquitoes.

Question 6

True or false? Mosquitoes are becoming resistant to insecticides

Answer 6

True

Question 7

What people are at a high risk of getting Malaria?

Answer 7

Children, Pregnant women, those that have HIV as their immune system is weaker.

Question 8

What strategies have been put in place to combat Malaria?

Answer 8

Insecticide treated bed nets, Indoor residual spraying, anti-malarial drugs (However these are not accessible to everyone.)

Question 9

What country did we study that has one of the worlds highest numbers of people infected with HIV?

Answer 9

Malawi

Question 10

True or false? More people have HIV in urban areas than in rural areas

Answer 10

True

Question 11

What are the social and economic impacts of HIV?

Answer 11

Low life expectancy in the 50’s, Many families are in poverty due to adults being too ill to work, The country’s development is limited due to a reduction in taxes being paid as a result of fewer people working, Children of adults with HIV often drop out of school to care for parents.

Question 12

What strategies has the government put in place to combat HIV/AIDS?

Answer 12

HIV testing and counselling, Investment in preventing mother-to-child transmissions by giving medication whilst pregnant, Increase availability of free condoms, Increase the amount of people treated with anti-retroviral treatment (ART) which helps to prevent HIV developing to AIDS.

Question 13

When did the Ebola outbreak occur?

Answer 13

March 2014

Question 14

Where did the Ebola outbreak occur?

Answer 14

West Africa - Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia

Question 15

Why were the people of West Africa more vulnerable?

Answer 15

Because they are poor and so they have less well fed, have poor living conditions and cannot afford treatment.

Question 16

What NGO helped the people of Liberia by offering financial support, repaired toilets and water points and trained teachers to educate people about good hygine?

Answer 16

Oxfam

Question 17

Why is clean, safe water essential to social and economic development?

Answer 17

To maintain water supplies for people to drink, provide hygiene, grow food, supply industrial processes.

Question 18

What area in Sub-Saharan Africa suffers from water insecurity?

Answer 18

Nigeria, Sahel Region of Africa

Question 19

Give 4 reasons why this region suffers with water insecurity

Answer 19

Hot semi-arid climate with long dry season, Rainy season is unreliable, The government has failed to provide enough piped water supply or sanitation to cities such as Kano, Poverty and drought has brought political instability.

Question 20

Why does the city of Kano in Nigeria have a high amount of people at risk of polio?

Answer 20

Poor sanitation- It has no sewage system, High density shanty towns, 2003-2004 vaccinations were stopped by local Muslim leaders, Extremists opened fire on 2 polio clinics killing 9 health workers.

Question 21

What has the state government and UNICEF done to try and get rid of polio?

Answer 21

Educate people about the benefits of polio vaccine.