REASONS DISEASES ARE PREVALENT IN AFRICA

The following are the reasons diseases are prevalent in Africa:

1. Malaria for example, is caused by the parasite plasmodium and transmitted

by the female mosquito anopheles; which can be prevented from protecting

bites of an individual or by preventing their growth through regular

fumigation, environmental cleaning and use of mosquito nets.

But most Africans find it hard to use mosquitoes nets in order to shield them

from the bites of the infected female mosquito.

2. HIV/AIDS is Mainly transmitted through sex (95%) and the way to stop it is

as simple as ABC – Abstain, Be faithful and Use Condoms. Prostitution,

infidelity especially in marriage is among the top cause of spread of the

virus.

3. Cholera, Malnutrition: Only clean water, personal hygiene and food intake

may help reduce this. Food in Africa is expensive; access to clean water is a

big challenge. These combined factors shorten the life span of the

inhabitants of Africa.

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 4. Tuberculosis and other respiratory disease: AIDS is also one of the

reason but low quality standard of living and weak immunity due to

insufficient food contribute much to the problem. Tuberculosis is air

communicable and stops when person who is infected start medication.

5. People will talk of humidity, temperature, lifestyles, culture , poor health

facilities and access, inadequate technologies etc… but all will rotate around

one core element and that is POVERTY! And the only way to eradicate

poverty among our people is through youth empowerment and strong

investment in Agriculture. We have 80% of our population in village, and all

claims to be majoring on Agriculture for living at a subsistent level.

6. Underdevelopment: there are tracts of undeveloped land or land where

significant amounts of pesticides haven’t been used to kill every living thing;

so diseases and disease vectors will naturally be more common.

In summary, the following points are highlighted:

a. Lack of personal hygiene: A lot of Africans do not value personal grooming

as it is commonly found among people in the rural areas such as local

government areas and districts. This gives the disease causing organisms to

grow and develop and to cause more harm.

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b. Cultural practices: superstitious beliefs such as disregard of the use of

condoms, vaccinations against polio mellitus and proper family panning

practices help the spread of diseases.

c. Overcrowding and poverty: in Africa, the adage that says “poverty is a

serious disease still holds water.” Poverty is one of the major causes of

health challenges like malnutrition and poor access to health facilities.

d. Lack of basic facilities like clean water and sanitation: potable/drinking

water is relatively scarce in developing countries of the African continents.

Indiscriminate waste disposal pose a great risk to one’s health.

e. Lack of social services from government - little or no immunization: The

governments in African countries pay little or no attention to the

immunization of children against diseases.

f. Constant violence: violence brings about economic backwardness and

hardship and this increases the rate of suffering of the common African

masses. This will in turn increase the spread of diseases.

g. Lack of proper nutrition: malnutrition is a leading of cause of diseases in

Africa. A malnourished person is susceptible to diseases.

h. Lack of education: ignorance of disease’s etiology/causes does not stop one

from contracting the disease. Poor education on safe sexual practices may

lead one to contract STDs or STIs.

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i. Geographic position - high heat, high humidity, or droughts, lots of pests:

this favour the rapid growth of disease causing organisms.

j. In Africa the eating of bush meat and other animals found dead: the

consumption of carcass of animals by an individual puts that individual at a

risk of contracting the disease that terminated the life if the individual.

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https://www.quora.com/Why-do-Africa-and-South-America-harbor-so-many-
diseases#