Famine and Disease Famine and Disease in Africain Africa

Georgia Performance Georgia Performance StandardsStandards

SS7CG3 The student will analyze how politics in Africa impacts standard of living.

b. Describe the impact of government stability on the distribution of resources to combat AIDS and famine across Africa.

Background InformationBackground Information

Three biggest problems in Africa Three biggest problems in Africa (create a triangle of misery):(create a triangle of misery):1.1. Civil warCivil war2.2. FamineFamine3.3. AIDSAIDS

Africa is a large continent, but also Africa is a large continent, but also the poorest continent in the world.the poorest continent in the world.

Had many natural resources before Had many natural resources before European colonization, but today European colonization, but today there is widespread povertythere is widespread poverty

Background Information Background Information (cont.)(cont.)

Many health problems are caused or Many health problems are caused or made worse by poverty.made worse by poverty.

Poverty creates poor living conditions, Poverty creates poor living conditions, such as lack of clean water or food.such as lack of clean water or food.

Those living in poverty often get sick.Those living in poverty often get sick. They may live in crowded, dirty areas.They may live in crowded, dirty areas. They may not have doctors or medicine.They may not have doctors or medicine. They may not have the education to They may not have the education to

know how to stop the spread of disease.know how to stop the spread of disease.

Famine in AfricaFamine in Africa FamineFamine—occurs when a region does not have —occurs when a region does not have

enough food for a long period of timeenough food for a long period of time More than 25 million Africans needed More than 25 million Africans needed

emergency aid in 2008 and 200 million emergency aid in 2008 and 200 million suffer from chronic hunger.suffer from chronic hunger.

Factors that have led to famine in Africa:Factors that have led to famine in Africa:1.1.Climate changesClimate changes: drought (lack of rain) makes : drought (lack of rain) makes

food scarce because crops diefood scarce because crops die2.2.Human forcesHuman forces, like wars, can disrupt farming , like wars, can disrupt farming

which causes food shortages which causes food shortages 3.3.Weak economiesWeak economies: Poor prices of African goods : Poor prices of African goods

on the world marketon the world market4.4.Disease Disease (like AIDS and malaria)(like AIDS and malaria)5.5.Poorly organized and/or corrupt Poorly organized and/or corrupt

governmentsgovernments (some even steal food from (some even steal food from humanitarian organizations that should be going humanitarian organizations that should be going to the people)to the people)

Famine in AfricaFamine in Africa There is simply not enough food on There is simply not enough food on

Earth for everyone to eat well.Earth for everyone to eat well. Many people live where they cannot Many people live where they cannot

grow food or where food cannot be grow food or where food cannot be transported easily.transported easily.

Sub-Saharan Africa (Africa south of Sub-Saharan Africa (Africa south of the Sahara) has the highest risk of the Sahara) has the highest risk of famine in Africa.famine in Africa.

It is considered a HumanitarianIt is considered a Humanitarian CrisisCrisis—one in which many human —one in which many human lives are at risk in a region.lives are at risk in a region.

HIV / AIDS in AfricaHIV / AIDS in Africa Sub-Saharan Africa (the countries below Sub-Saharan Africa (the countries below

the Sahara desert) is more heavily the Sahara desert) is more heavily affected by affected by HIV and and AIDS than any other than any other region of the world. region of the world.

An estimated 22.4 million people are living An estimated 22.4 million people are living with HIV in the region - around two thirds with HIV in the region - around two thirds of the global total. of the global total.

In 2008 around 1.4 million people died In 2008 around 1.4 million people died from AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa and 1.9 from AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa and 1.9 million people became infected with HIV. million people became infected with HIV.

Since the beginning of the epidemic more Since the beginning of the epidemic more than 14 than 14 million children have lost one or have lost one or both parents to AIDS.both parents to AIDS.

HIV / AIDS in AfricaHIV / AIDS in Africa Average life expectancy in sub-Average life expectancy in sub-

Saharan Africa is now 47 years, when Saharan Africa is now 47 years, when it could have been 62 without AIDS. it could have been 62 without AIDS.

There are drugs that slow down the There are drugs that slow down the progress of HIV infection to AIDS, but progress of HIV infection to AIDS, but there is no cure.there is no cure.

Education and prevention are the most Education and prevention are the most important tools for fighting AIDS.important tools for fighting AIDS.

Africa needs more money to pay for Africa needs more money to pay for education and prevention programs.education and prevention programs.

What do politics and What do politics and economics have to with AIDS?economics have to with AIDS?

As African countries gained their independence, the As African countries gained their independence, the governments had to deal with civil wars and famine, so governments had to deal with civil wars and famine, so AIDS did not receive the attention it needed. AIDS did not receive the attention it needed.

(Health issues get worse because of political instability)(Health issues get worse because of political instability) The African economies have suffered due the staggering The African economies have suffered due the staggering

burden of healthcare and lack of healthy workers.burden of healthcare and lack of healthy workers.

(Economies always suffer when health issues plague a (Economies always suffer when health issues plague a country.)country.)

Botswana did not have the political instability that other Botswana did not have the political instability that other African countries did, so they have had the resources to African countries did, so they have had the resources to help it citizens and was the first African country to offer help it citizens and was the first African country to offer drug therapy to all its citizens infected with AIDS.drug therapy to all its citizens infected with AIDS.

Essential QuestionsEssential Questions

What are the 5 factors that have What are the 5 factors that have contributed to famine in Africa? contributed to famine in Africa?

How has government stability How has government stability impacted the distribution of impacted the distribution of resources to help fight famine and resources to help fight famine and AIDS in Africa? AIDS in Africa?

What are some realistic ways to help What are some realistic ways to help combat famine and AIDS in Africa?combat famine and AIDS in Africa?