1. African Health Issues

2. Problems in Africa Famine, AIDS, and malaria are the biggest issues in Africa Poorest continent in the world Widespread poverty throughout Many have lack of access to clean water or food Little or no access to doctors or medicine

3. Famine Famine occurs when a region does not have enough food for a long period of time Many will die from malnutrition Famine can be human made or naturally occur Drought and lack of rain cause crops to die Wars can also cause food shortages

4. The Ethiopian famine of the mid 1980’s left over a million people dead. This region is experiencing a famine today and it is estimated that more than 8 million people will be affected

5. The risk of famine is highest in Sub-Saharan Africa The greatest crisis is occurring in Dafur, Western Sudan

6. Niger is officially the poorest country on earth. The huge Sahara Desert is encroaching on fertile land eating it up at a rate of approximately 3 miles every decade. The residents of the country constantly suffer from the droughts and famine with little or no help from other countries. To witness cows, goats and sheep dying on the roadside, seeing the streams dry, the trees empty and the fields brown are nothing compared to seeing the malnourished children dying in their Mother’s arms. Niger will continue to suffer from droughts and its residents will continue to be driven south by the desert.

7. Famine in Sudan, Africa Starving children in Ajiep campground Year 2000

9. Malaria Malaria is a disease caused by mosquitoes Each year more than 1 million die from malaria Children are at the greatest risk There is no vaccine Insecticides and nets could help lower risk Anti-malaria drugs are available but expensive

10. HIV/ AIDS ADIS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) due to HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is the more severe health crisis in the world It is considered pandemic (a widespread epidemic) It destroys the body’s power to fight illness It is spread by bodily fluids blood, semen, and breastmilk

11. Africa has the largest amount of cases in the world 2/3 of the world’s infections are in Africa 1/3 of all AIDS death occurred in Sub- Saharan Africa in 2005. Aids kills some 6,000 people each day in Africa - more than wars, famines and floods. Millions of children are orphans, many more live with HIV or Aids.