Famine in Africa

Famine A famine is a wide-spread and severe shortage of food affecting large numbers of people. Natural causes include droughts, floods, earthquakes, insect plagues, and plant disease.

Famine, continued Human causes include wars, sieges, civil disturbances, and deliberate crop destruction. Wide-spread and chronic hunger and malnutrition may result from severe poverty, inefficient food distribution, or population increases beyond the growing capacity of the land.

Deaths from Starvation Sub-Saharan Africa contains only about 10% of the world's population. Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for 70% of the total worldwide population of people living with HIV/AIDS. More than 20 million people who have died of AIDS since the epidemic began. 55% of HIV-positive adults in Sub-Saharan Africa are women.

Starvation Protein-energy malnutrition is a basic lack of food (from famine) and a major cause of infant deaths worldwide. Starvation is called protein-energy malnutrition because the two most essential things food provides are protein and energy. When primarily a lack of protein in the food, the illness caused in children is called kwashiorkor. When the food supply does not provide enough energy (calories), the illness caused is called marasmus. In marasmus there is extreme thinness (wasting), especially of the arms. In kwashiorkor you don't look so thin, partly because the body retains more fluid, but you stop growing (stunting).

Kwashiorkor

Marasmus

Starvation, Continued Both can occur together. In both you often have a swollen tummy (distended abdomen due to fluid or gases), reduced resistance to infection, impaired learning ability (mental retardation) and are short (stunted growth). This can limit both physical and mental ability to perform many activities. Adults are also severely affected in famines by protein-energy malnutrition, but the children usually start dying first.

All Nutritional Deficiencies Deaths Sub-Saharan Africa contains only about 10% of the world's population. Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for 70% of the total worldwide population of people living with HIV/AIDS. More than 20 million people who have died of AIDS since the epidemic began. 55% of HIV-positive adults in Sub-Saharan Africa are women.

Nutritional Deficiencies Nutritional deficiencies are due to inadequate amounts of particular categories of food and nutrients in what you have to eat and drink. All of the conditions here involve essential nutrients without which you cannot survive. You need large amounts of protein and carbohydrates, and small amounts of minerals and vitamins. Fats are essential to obtain some vitamins from food.

Malnutrition and Famine Malnutrition and famine represent significant health challenges in Africa. In the 1980’s and 1990’s, countries like Ethiopia, Somalia, and Sudan experienced famines that killed millions of people. Malnutrition contributes the high numbers of deaths among Africans from diseases that are otherwise seldom fatal. Even preventable childhood illnesses such as measles and diptheria are often deadly.

During the last half of the 20th century Africa has had numerous civil wars. Africa has a serious AIDS/HIV crisis. Over 70% of the people world-wide infected with AIDS live in sub-Saharan Africa. One of the major consequences of the numerous civil wars affecting the treatment of AIDS patients is . A. Lack of medical training. B. Unsanitary drinking water. C. Over-crowded refugee camps. D. Disruption in the distribution of medicine.