"I know poverty because poverty was there before I was born and it has become part of life like the blood through my veins. Poverty is not going empty for a single day and getting something to eat the next day. Poverty is going empty with no hope of the future. Poverty is getting nobody to feel your pain and poverty is when your dreams go in vain because nobody is there to help you. Poverty is watching your mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters die in pain and in sorrow because they couldn't get something to eat. Poverty is hearing your grandmothers and grandfathers cry out to death to come take them because they are tired of this world. Poverty is watching your own children and grandchildren die in your arms but there is nothing you can do. Poverty is suffering from HIV/AIDS and dying a shameful death but nobody seems to care" (http://cozay.com/)
For as long as I can remember poverty has been a major issue for the people in Africa. Children in Africa are faced with diseases, famine and war. Many of the children in Africa have lost their parents, grandparents and siblings and are left to face the harsh realities of poverty alone. In many parts of Africa the production of food is dependant upon labor workers. Being that some areas are destroyed by war and deaths from HIV and lack of food and other diseases; results in the production of food to be scarce. Several families are left to depend on others to give them food in times of need.
"About 50% of the African population lives in slums" (http://cozay.com/). "Slum" houses are normally self built and the people have no electricity, poor sanitation and no water. Because of poor sanitation diseases such as malaria and cholera. Children who live in slums do no go to school because there are none and if they become ill they don't get medical attention because there are no hospitals.
What is being done to help Africa?
Two organization "African Union(AU)" and "The New Partnership for Africa's development(NEPAD)" are handling HIV/AIDS and helping to minimize and maintain economic growth. These organizations are dedicated to improving peace and security in Africa. Some countries have made progress. "In the last five years, Mozambique has reduced poverty from 70% to 55% and has doubled the number of children in school. In Tanzania, 1000 new schools have been built and 18, 000 teachers recruited. Kenya has introduced free primary education, which brought 1.2 million children back in school" (http://www.food4africa.org/indes.asp?pgid=46)
"Africa means "Beauty" and Africa means "Love". Africa is nature and Africa is life. Africa is "culture" and Africa is "tradition". Africa is blessed with beautiful culture and traditions across the continent" (http//:cozay.com/).
References
http://cozay.com/
http://www.food4africa.org/index.asp?pgid=46
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Child Development and Public Health
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome has always been an alarming topic to me. SID's is one of the many issues that face families; I will never understand the reasoning behind it. A baby comes home from the hospital and suddenly dies with no known causes of death, that is puzzling to me. I can imagine how traumatic this is to families. Sudden Infant Death can happen to any family, it has no particular prey.
In South Africa the rate of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is 44 babies to die to every 1,000 born. This rate is high in comparison to other countries. Health professionals feel this is due to the number of babies born with HIV. They also feel mothers do not get the proper pre-natal care needed during pregnancy. Officials have also related premature births to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. While many speculate on the causes of SID's, I believe parents should be educated on precautions measures.
A few weeks ago I read an article in the "Baltimore's Child" called "First Candle Brightens Outlook for Infants and Families". First candle is an organization which supports families who have experienced Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. There are counselors who work with families and help them cope with the loss of their baby. They also provide classes and seminars on how to properly lay babies down when they are sleeping. I found this to be an outstanding organization to help families deal with their loss.
In working with children there are many issues that can arise at any given time. In being knowledgeable about Sudden Infant Death will help me to effectively communicate with families that may have gone through this experience.
http://health.yahoo.net/news/s/afp/safricahealthaidschildrenhospital
In South Africa the rate of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is 44 babies to die to every 1,000 born. This rate is high in comparison to other countries. Health professionals feel this is due to the number of babies born with HIV. They also feel mothers do not get the proper pre-natal care needed during pregnancy. Officials have also related premature births to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. While many speculate on the causes of SID's, I believe parents should be educated on precautions measures.
A few weeks ago I read an article in the "Baltimore's Child" called "First Candle Brightens Outlook for Infants and Families". First candle is an organization which supports families who have experienced Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. There are counselors who work with families and help them cope with the loss of their baby. They also provide classes and seminars on how to properly lay babies down when they are sleeping. I found this to be an outstanding organization to help families deal with their loss.
In working with children there are many issues that can arise at any given time. In being knowledgeable about Sudden Infant Death will help me to effectively communicate with families that may have gone through this experience.
http://health.yahoo.net/news/s/afp/safricahealthaidschildrenhospital
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Birth In Africa
I have not had the experience of giving birth or being in direct contact with anyone who is in the delivery room. I have had conversations with relatives and close friends on their birth experiences. I feel each women has her own personal experience based any many factors that took place during their nine months.
In the past I have heard about the traumatic experiences women of Africa have involving birth. The rate of women dying from childbirth complications is three times higher than women in other countries. This is largely because women In Africa do not get the proper medical care they need during their pregnancies. There have been plenty of women have been plenty of women who have died during childbirth simply because they had inadequate care or no care at all during pregnancy. Midwives have provided care to women in many African countries but have been forced to move to other areas in the nation due to lack of pay. In result, African "healers" in Mozambique have been trained to serve as midwives. Since this, there has been a noticeable drop in infant mortality. Government officials are working on campaigns to get mothers in hospitals and classes during their pregnancies. This will hopefully result in successful pregnancies.
I hope in the future these conditions change. Women all over the world have the right to have adequate care during a pregnancy. I do understand that the living condition in Africa are different as compared to other countries.
In Africa, Overcoming the Risks of Childbirth
By Charlayne Hunter-Gaults
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5628726
In the past I have heard about the traumatic experiences women of Africa have involving birth. The rate of women dying from childbirth complications is three times higher than women in other countries. This is largely because women In Africa do not get the proper medical care they need during their pregnancies. There have been plenty of women have been plenty of women who have died during childbirth simply because they had inadequate care or no care at all during pregnancy. Midwives have provided care to women in many African countries but have been forced to move to other areas in the nation due to lack of pay. In result, African "healers" in Mozambique have been trained to serve as midwives. Since this, there has been a noticeable drop in infant mortality. Government officials are working on campaigns to get mothers in hospitals and classes during their pregnancies. This will hopefully result in successful pregnancies.
I hope in the future these conditions change. Women all over the world have the right to have adequate care during a pregnancy. I do understand that the living condition in Africa are different as compared to other countries.
In Africa, Overcoming the Risks of Childbirth
By Charlayne Hunter-Gaults
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5628726
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