One of the most prevalent issues condemning Africa today is
that of health care. The lack of health care throughout Africa is not only
depleting the population, but it also places ramifications on the government that
harbor very unstable conditions. I chose the topic of public health because I believe
that health care concerns are what plague the continent and what ultimately stimulate
the majority of conflicts in Africa. It all boils down to basic human needs;
all humans deserve the right to life and when that is jeopardized, it can bring
out animalistic actions that might otherwise never surface.
The potential for universal health care has recently
surfaced as a viable method for providing basic human needs to the continent of
Africa. Currently, health care resides in the private sector and therefore is
very expensive and essentially unachievable to the poor populations. Since the
poor and poverty stricken populations compromise the majority of Africa, it is feasible
to assume that health care is by no means easily accessible. Therefore, we see
skyrocketing rates of death by diseases, infections, viruses, etc. Death is rampant
in all demographics of the population, i.e. men, women, and children. With the initiation of universal health care
among African countries, it will save countless lives and hinder the spread of
diseases throughout the region (primarily the spread of HIV/AIDS). Health care
will be more equitable and accessible due to the affordability which has previously
been scarce (AllAfrica). Countries that have already begun the movement towards
universal health care or have already implemented the method are Ghana,
Rwanda, Nigeria, Kenya, Mali, and South Africa (Namuwaya). Due to poor levels of
governance throughout the region the ability for implementation seems unlikely.
However other countries have proposed a two-sector idea for providing health care,
one optional private health care and another universal health care. South
Africa is a country that exhibits this two-sector method of providing health care (AllAfrica).
We have learned that political instability via
protests stem from an array of deprivations: economic deprivations, lack of
public resources, poor living conditions, etc. If the public is poor and
seemingly has unchangeable health conditions, then protests will inevitably
rise when the public has nothing else to loose. By providing universal
healthcare, the public will receive basic human needs that everyone should be
entitled too. This public resource will raise their self-worth, hence
increasing stable conditions within a state. From a human rights stand point,
it seems to be a win-win situation. However, taxes will need to rise by an
average of 11 percent (AllAfrica). Although this seems daunting and a bit steep, African countries
have already attributed successful stories (AllAfrica). Therefore it seems quite possible
across the board if governments stop allocating all state revenues between the
hands of the few and release corruption to better this nation state’s
well-being (the opposite of neopatrimonialism). Overly optimistic, perhaps? Lets hope not.
Article (no listed author)
