1. Today’s Issues: Africa
European colonialism of the 1800s has left most of today’s independent African nations with economic, health, educational, and political problems.

2. Today’s Issues: Africa Economic Development Health Care
SECTION 1
Economic Development
SECTION 2
Health Care
Case Study
Effects of Colonialism

3. Section-1
Economic Development
Africa’s history of colonization has had long-term effects on its economy.
Barriers to African economic development include illiteracy, foreign debt, and a lack of manufacturing industries.

4. Economic Development Africa’s Economy Today A History of Problems
Section-1
Economic Development
Africa’s Economy Today
A History of Problems
Most countries do little manufacturing
− sell raw materials to industrialized countries
European colonizers exploited Africa’s resources, people
− millions sold into slavery or died from harsh working conditions
Land was mined, drilled; environment was ignored
All this has limited Africa’s economic growth, political stability
Continued…

5. Africa’s Economy Today {continued}
Africa’s Economic Status
Most African countries are worse off today than in 1960
− average incomes have decreased
− worldwide: accounts for 1% of total GNP, 1.5% of exports
Lack crucial infrastructure (roads, airports, railroads, ports)
Little access to computers or high technology

6. On the Road to Development
Reducing Debt and Increasing Cooperation
Newly independent countries borrowed money to build economies
− total debt of sub-Saharan governments was $227 billion by 1997
− many Western leaders push to forgive Africa’s debts
Trying to improve economies through regional cooperation
− Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
− Southern African Development Community (SADC)
− groups promote trade, improvement of infrastructure
Continued…

7. On the Road to Development {continued}
Building Industries
“One-commodity” countries rely on export of one or two commodities
− commodity—agricultural or mining product that can be sold
− value varies daily based on worldwide supply and demand
− this makes “one-commodity” nations’ economies unstable
Economists want Africans to diversify—create variety in economies
− promote manufacturing to achieve economic growth and stability
East Africa’s Djibouti established shipping center on Gulf of Aden

8. Educating Workers Improving Education Reversing the Brain Drain
Uneducated populace is a large barrier to economic development
Average schooling time for women up only 1.2 years in last 40 years
In Angola and Somalia, civil wars have destroyed school systems
But in Algeria, 94% get a formal education
− 83% of Mauritians over 15 are literate
Reversing the Brain Drain
Many professionals migrate to Western nations
− International Organization for Migration urges return

9. Section-2
Health Care
Epidemic diseases are killing Africa’s people in huge numbers.
African nations and countries around the world are using a variety of methods, including education, to eradicate disease.

10. Health Care Disease and Despair Serious Diseases
Section-2
Health Care
Disease and Despair
Serious Diseases
Cholera—sometimes fatal infection
− spread by poor sanitation, lack of clean water
Malaria—often-fatal infectious disease marked by chills, fever
− carried by mosquitoes; resistant to drugs due to overuse
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)—caused by HIV virus
− 70% of adult, 80% of child AIDS cases are in Africa
− often paired with tuberculosis—infectious respiratory infection

11. AIDS Stalks the Continent
Africa Bears the Brunt
3 million died from AIDS worldwide in 2000
− 2.4 million lived in sub-Saharan Africa
In Swaziland, 3 of 4 deaths were from AIDS
− life expectancy has fallen from 58 years to 39
In 2000, 26 million people in Africa had HIV or AIDS
Continued…

12. AIDS Stalks the Continent {continued}
A High Price to Pay
Widespread disease has economic consequences
− sick people work less or not at all, earn less, slip into poverty
AIDS is lowering South Africa’s GDP
− by 2010, it could be 17% lower compared to without AIDS
Medical care for AIDS patients is expensive
− UNAIDS estimates $4.63 billion needed to fight AIDS in Africa
− UNAIDS—United Nations program studying AIDS epidemic

13. Nations Respond A Variety of Answers
Since 1930s, spraying programs used to reduce insect numbers
− fight malaria, other insect-borne diseases
In 2000, the Global Fund for Children’s Vaccines pledged money
− $250 million over next 5 years for worldwide immunizations
Gabon using oil revenues to upgrade its health care system
African Development Fund loaned Mozambique $12.3 million dollars
− money to be used to upgrade public health facilities
Continued…

14. Nations Respond {continued}
Strategies Against AIDS
South Africa, Brazil work together on AIDS prevention, care
− Brazil has public health policies to fight AIDS, other diseases
− Brazil’s policies are considered a model for developing nations
Continued…

15. Nations Respond {continued}
Success Stories
Uganda and Senegal have reduced spread of HIV
− in 1997, Uganda offers same-day HIV tests, education programs
− infection rates among 15 to 24 year olds have dropped 50%
Senegal controls spread of AIDS with intensive education program
− infection rates have been below 2% since mid- 1980s
UNAIDS says HIV infection rates in sub-Saharan Africa are down
− 1999–2000: dropped by 200,000 cases, but figure may be misleading

16. Effects of Colonialism
Case Study
Effects of Colonialism
How can African nations bring peace and stability to their people?
BACKGROUND
Early 19th century Africa was home to great empires, rich cultures
By the end of the 19th century—poverty and violence
Many of Africa’s problems stem from European colonialism

17. Effects of Colonialism
Case Study
Effects of Colonialism
Colonizing Africa
Europeans in Africa
Portuguese establish coastal trading stations in the 1400s
By mid-1800s, Europeans seek Africa’s rich natural resources
− need raw materials for industrial economies, markets to sell goods
Berlin Conference ( ) sets rules for dividing up Africa
Continued…

18. Nations Respond {continued}
Case Study
Nations Respond {continued}
Europeans in Africa
European control begins to fade in 20th century
− most countries gain independence in 1960s
Long-term damage to cultural and ethnic boundaries, economy

19. Challenges of Independence
Case Study
Challenges of Independence
Colonial Transition
Departing Europeans did not leave Africa with stable governments
− newly established nations suffered dictators and civil wars
Europeans did not understand Africa’s ethnic diversity
− drew country boundaries combining historical enemies
Continued…

20. Challenges of Independence {continued}
Case Study
Challenges of Independence {continued}
Colonial Transition
Germany and Belgium aggravated historically tense ethnic relations
− Rwanda, Burundi include Hutu, Tutsi groups; war erupts in 1990s
− this ethnic conflict took the lives of hundreds of thousands
Continued…

21. Challenges of Independence {continued}
Case Study
Challenges of Independence {continued}
Colonial Transition
Colonial boundaries create problems for many African governments
− difficult to get different ethnic groups to cooperate
Dictators like Mobutu Sese Seko became common
− Mobutu ruled what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Many Africans have no experience living in democratic governments
Continued…

22. Challenges of Independence {continued}
Case Study
Challenges of Independence {continued}
Cause for Hope
Primary goal is to establish democratic traditions
− political stability needed for peace and prosperity
Some progress is being made, for example in South Africa
− white minority government yielded power to black majority in 1994
− ended decades of government-sanctioned racial discrimination
Continued…

23. Challenges of Independence {continued}
Case Study
Challenges of Independence {continued}
Cause for Hope
In 2001, Ghana peacefully elected a new president
− a change from the coups, assassinations of previous governments

24. This is the end of the chapter presentation of lecture notes.
Click the HOME or EXIT button.

25. Print Slide Show On the File menu, select Print
In the pop-up menu, select Microsoft PowerPoint If the dialog box does not include this pop-up, continue to step 4
In the Print what box, choose the presentation format you want to print: slides, notes, handouts, or outline
Click the Print button to print the PowerPoint presentation