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Introduction to Issues Facing Contemporary Africa

Introduction to Issues Facing Contemporary Africa. Population Characteristics of Africa. Today, across the world 1.3 billion people live on less than one dollar a day 3 billion live on under two dollars a day 1.3 billion have no access to clean water 3 billion have no access to sanitation

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Introduction to Issues Facing Contemporary Africa

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  1. Introduction to Issues Facing Contemporary Africa

  2. Population Characteristics of Africa

  3. Today, across the world 1.3 billion people live on less than one dollar a day 3 billion live on under two dollars a day 1.3 billion have no access to clean water 3 billion have no access to sanitation 2 billion have no access to electricity

  4. The GDP (Gross Domestic Product) of the poorest 48 nations (i.e. a quarter of the world’s countries) is less than the wealth of the world’s three richest people combined. 2 United States Warren Buffett 1 United States, William Gates III Richest People in the World Rank Country Individual 1 United States Gates, William H III 2 United States Buffett, Warren E 3 India Lakshmi Mittal 4 Mexico Carlos Slim Helu 5 Saudi Arabia Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Alsaud 6 Sweden Ingvar Kamprad 7 United States Paul Allen 8 Germany Karl Albrecht 9 United States Lawrence Ellison 10 United States S Robson Walton 3 India Mittal Lakshmi

  5. What we spent in Billions of Dollars Cosmetics in the United States 8 b Ice cream in Europe 11 b Perfumes in Europe and the United States 12 b Pet foods in Europe and the United States 17 b Business entertainment in Japan 35 b Cigarettes in Europe 50 b Alcoholic drinks in Europe 105 b Narcotics drugs in the world 400 b Military spending in the world 780 b What is needed in Billions of dollars Basic education for all 6 b Water and sanitation for all 9 b Reproductive health for all women 12 b Basic health and nutrition 13 b

  6. Poorest Countries in the World---Notice How Many Are From Africa Rank Country GDP - per capita 1 East Timor $ 500 2 Somalia $ 500 3 Sierra Leone $ 500 4 Malawi $ 600 5 Tanzania $ 600 6 Burundi $ 600 7 Congo, Republic of the $ 700 8 Congo, Democratic Republic of the $ 700 9 Comoros $ 700 10 Eritrea $ 700 11 Ethiopia $ 700 12 Afghanistan $ 700 13 Niger $ 800 14 Yemen $ 800 15 Madagascar $ 800 16 Guinea-Bissau $ 800 17 Zambia $ 800 18 Kiribati $ 800 19 Nigeria $ 900 20 Mali $ 900

  7. According to UNICEF, 30,000 children die each day due to poverty. And they “die quietly in some of the poorest villages on earth, far removed from the scrutiny and the conscience of the world. That is about 210,000 children each week, or just under 11 million children under five years of age, each year.

  8. Africa's population which was estimated at 257 million in 1960 had increased to 482 million by 1983. • In 1993 the population of the continent was estimated at 682 million. • The average annual growth rate during the decade was 3.2 percent, the highest among a Third World region. • Current population estimates of the continent are around 1 billion people. • Africa faces a major population explosion in the near future.

  9. AFRICA: POPULATION • In 2003, Africa had a population of 861,000,000, 13.6 percent of the world total. • Sub-Saharan Africa, as defined here (excluding North Africa), had 711,300,000 people in 2003. • The realm is divided into 55 countries, approximately one fourth of the political units of the world. • The overall rate of natural increase of the population in Africa is 2.4 percent, the highest of any world region (world rate of natural increase is 1.3 percent). • The doubling time for Africa’s population is only 29 years as compared to 54 years for the world as a whole.

  10. Africa’s Population Growth Trends • 1950: 64 million • 2000: 250 million • 2050: 779 million

  11. In 100 years Africa: • Population grew 10x • Second most populous region in the world

  12. In 2050: • 1 of 4 humans live in Africa • 1 of 3 Africans live in East Africa

  13. Africa’s Geography: People • In 2007 Africa was home to more than 965 million people • More than 60% of Africa’s population was still living in rural areas in 2005 • Africa now has the fastest urban growth rate in the world • 2.7% of Africa’s population lives within 100 km of the coast • 56.6% of African labour force is engaged in agriculture

  14. Africa’s Changing Environment • Natural Change and Population • Africa’s population grew 2.32% annually between 2000 and 2005—nearly double the global rate of 1.24% • Air and Atmosphere • Africa is particularly vulnerable to climate change - towards the end of the 21st century, climate change will have caused sea-level rises that will affect Africa’s highly populated low-lying coastal areas • Land Cover and Land Use • Africa is losing more than four million hectares of forest every year—twice the world’s average deforestation rate • Water • By 2050 it is expected that areas experiencing water shortages in sub-Saharan Africa will have increased by 29% • Biodiversity • Africa contains 3 044 protected areas including 198 Marine Protected Areas, 50 Biosphere Reserves, 80 Wetlands of International Importance, and eight of the world’s 34 international biodiversity hotspots

  15. Africa’s Changing Population Africa’s population grew 2.32% annually between 2000 and 2005—nearly double the global rate of 1.24% per year

  16. 2050 1970 1950 1990 2005 Africa’s “Shrinking” Land Base Increased population increases pressures on the land and its resources. In a hypothetical situation whereby land is shared equally among its population, each individual’s share of land would decrease with the increase in population as time passes, putting more pressure on resources.

  17. Cultural Geography of Africa • Population Characteristics • Birth rates 40/1000 • Death rates 15/1000 • Natural Increase 25/1000 • Infant Mortality 91/1000 • Doubling Time 27 years • Pop <15 44% • Pop > 65 3%

  18. AFRICA: Population • Africa is the least urbanized of the world's regions with only 33 percent of its people living in urban areas. • Only 11 African cities have more than 1,000,000 people. • Kinshasa, the capital of Congo (Zaire), is Sub-Saharan Africa's largest city in terms of population size.

  19. Sub-Saharan Africa---Where Most of the Problems are Occurring • Poorest continent • Only region to get poorer over last 25 years • World’s largest number of displaced people and refugees • Debt crisis • Most rural continent, though cities growing very fast • Village life and subsistence agriculture important • Glorious wildlife still exists • Legacies of Colonialism • Cash crop economies, ethnic conflict, flawed transport systems • Medical Crises, including most HIV/AIDs in world • War and Failed Political Leadership Common • Few successful democracies

  20. Sub-Saharan Africa • Poorest continent • Only region to get poorer over last 25 years • World’s largest number of displaced people and refugees • Debt crisis • 44% of population younger than 15 • In 1990s number of those living in “extreme poverty (<$1/day) rose from 242 million to 300 million+ Angola, 2000

  21. Rates of Natural Increase

  22. Sub-Saharan Africa • Most rural continent, though cities growing very fast • Village life and subsistence agriculture important • 69% of population is rural • Glorious wildlife still exists Masai Village, Kenya Village, Zimbabwe Rwandan Farm

  23. Sub-Saharan Africa • Most rural continent, though cities growing very fast • Village life and subsistence agriculture important • Glorious wildlife still exists Lagos, Nigeria

  24. Sub-Saharan Africa • Most rural continent, though cities growing very fast • Village life and subsistence agriculture important • Glorious wildlife still exists Lagos, Nigeria Cape Town, Black Township, S. Africa

  25. Legacy of Colonialism • Cash crop economies, ethnic conflict, flawed transport systems Oil Palm Production Rail Systems Connect Cities to Ports, Not Other Cities Coffee in Kenya

  26. SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA’SECONOMIC CHALLENGE • Economic growth rate- 1.5% - world’s lowest • The region’s 646 million people have a combined GNP of less than $150 billion, roughly the same as Belgium and its 10 million people. • Population - growing at a rate of 2.6% annually, vs 1.7% for South America and 1.9% for South Asia

  27. Struggling Economies Farming, Mining Development Loans • After independence most African nations’ economies fragile • Depended on only one, two exports for support • African nations not industrialized, depended on farming, mining raw materials • Example: Ghana depended on cocoa; Nigeria, oil • For loans, turned to international organizations, like World Bank; bad planning, corrupt leaders left nations with huge debts, no infrastructure Economic and Environmental Challenges After achieving independence, many African nations faced economic challenges that came with their new status. In addition, Africans had to combat the spread of disease and environmental problems.

  28. As you know in the developing world treatable infectious diseases remain big killers Leading causes of death in Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia for persons age 0-44 (World Health Organization)

  29. Health Issues and Epidemics

  30. African Health Issues • Famine, AIDS, and malaria are among Africa’s biggest health problems. • Africa is a large continent with many Countries and 800 million people. • It is also the poorest continent in the world.

  31. African Health Issues • Africa had many natural resources before European colonization. • Today, however, there is widespread poverty throughout Africa. • Many health problems are caused or made worse by poverty. • Poverty creates poor living conditions, such as lack of clean water or food.

  32. African Health Issues • People living in poor conditions often get sick. • They may live in crowded areas that are dirty. • They may not have doctors or medicine. • People living in poverty may not have the education to know how to stop the spread of disease.

  33. Health Issues • Health issues in Africa are made worse by unstable politics. • In turn, unstable politics contribute to poverty. • High death rates due to health crises weaken economies. • In this way, the issues of health, economics, and politics are intertwined.

  34. MEDICAL GEOGRAPHY • Endemic -- Exists in equilibrium with the population -- Many develop an immunity of sorts -- Saps energy, lowers resistance, shortens lives • Epidemic -- Sudden outbreak at local, regional scale • Pandemic -- Worldwide spread

  35. AFRICA: HAZARDS AND DISEASES • Endemic: A disease exists in a population in a state of equilibrium; (syphilis and mononucleosis in the U.S.). • Endemic African diseases include malaria, yellow fever, onchocerciasis (river blindness) and schistosomiasis also called bilharzia. • The name bilharzia comes after Theodor Bilharz a German physician who died in 1862.

  36. AFRICA: HAZARDS AND DISEASES • Pandemic: Worldwide spread of a disease such as influenza. • Africa’s and the world’s most deadly disease is malaria which is transmitted by mosquitoes and kills as many as 1,000,000 children per year. • Another example of a pandemic disease is Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). People infected with Human Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV) do not display symptoms of the disease immediately. In some cases, people may carry the virus for years without being aware of it. • According to the United Nations, more than 32,000,000 people were infected with HIV worldwide in 2001. • Approximately 27,000,000 lived in Tropical African countries, specially the AIDS Belt that extends from Congo to Kenya. • In Zimbabwe and Botswana more than 25% of all persons aged 15-49 were infected with the HIV virus. The percentage of infections in Zambia is about 20% and in South Africa about 13%. • The impact of AIDS on Africa is devastating. • Yellow feveris another African pandemic disease. • There was an outbreak in Senegal in the 1960s that claimed more than 20,000 lives.

  37. MEDICAL GEOGRAPHY • Studies spatial aspects of disease and health • Africa is an extraordinary laboratory. -- Disease incidence and diffusion -- Widespread nutritional deficiencies • Millions suffer from: • malaria - river blindness • yellow fever - sleeping sickness • AIDS - bilharzia/schistosomiasis

  38. Current Challenges in Africa HIV/AIDS

  39. -While Sub-Saharan Africa is home to just over 10 percent of the world’s population, it has more than 60 percent or more than 25 million people living with HIV/AIDS. -Two important issues to note with regard to the epidemic in Sub-Saharan Africa are, first we are dealing with multiple epidemics requiring multiple strategies and, two the face of the epidemic is becoming more feminine which has dire consequences. -These next two slides show that while Sub-Saharan Africa bears the brunt of the epidemic in terms of the number of people affected, HIV/AIDS spares no one.

  40. Medical Crises, including most HIV/AIDs in world

  41. HIV/AIDS: • By 2010, more than 5 million cases and 300,000 annual deaths in E. Africa of AIDS • HIV now (maybe) receding

  42. HIV/AIDS basics Current status: Disaster

  43. HIV and AIDS in Africa • The spread of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) due to infection by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the most severe health crisis in the world. • It is considered a pandemic, awidespread epidemic HIV/AIDS attacks and destroys the body’s power to fight illness. • HIV/AIDS is spread through bodily fluids like blood, semen, and breast milk.

  44. Figure 17-A (b), p. 450

  45. HIV and AIDS in Africa • Africa has the highest rates of HIV infection in the world. • Seventeen million people have died from AIDS on the continent. • Over two-thirds of all HIV infections in the world are in Africa. • One-third of all AIDS deaths in the world in 2005 occurred in Sub-Saharan Africa.

  46. HIV and AIDS in Africa • AIDS/HIV is a major threat to the people of Africa. • The spread of AIDS lowers the life expectancy of entire populations. • Life expectancy is a measure of how long people can expect to live. • Over 12 million African children have been orphaned by AIDS.

  47. HIV and AIDS in Africa • There are drugs that slow down the progress of HIV infection to AIDS. • However, there is no cure for AIDS. Education and prevention are the most important tools for fighting AIDS. • Africa needs more money to pay for education and prevention programs.

  48. MALARIA AND HIV Worldwide Distribution of Malaria Malaria and HIV overlap in Sub Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia and South America. In 2003 HIV/AIDS caused the deaths of approx. 2.9 M people of whom 2.4 M lived in Africa Worldwide Distribution of HIV, End of 2004

  49. Global malaria burden Endemic in 109 countries Over 40% of world population live in malaria endemic countries 247 million cases and nearly one million deaths in 2008 Lancet 2010; 376: 1566–78 (WHO report 2010)

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