Preservation of Health

Health is a major factor towards improving the quality of life, enhancing human capital and which can lead to development of a country.

Health Challenge faced in Developing Countries

However, in most developing countries, African countries in particular bear the heaviest burden of disease mainly due to communicable diseases especially HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis, as well as high child and maternal mortality, some of which are preventable and this greatly impacts on the continent’s resources. In addition, various constraints are still being experienced in the health service delivery systems which include to mention but a few weak health infrastructure, limited tools, inadequate human resource capacity, limited public financing to the health sector as a whole (and not only to disease specific programs), poor management and planning and lack of integrated health systems and misapplication of human, technical and financial resources.

It is also to be noted that the burden of disease has continued to increase in Africa and the cause of such condition is the slow pace of socio-economic development in Africa. In Africa, the link between poverty and health has been well documented. One of the immediate consequences of poverty is that the majority of the population, especially in rural areas and the urban vulnerable groups cannot afford the cost of basic health services – even those that were once previously affordable. Increasing poverty basically means that the majority of the population especially children, women and the old age are at high risk of sickness, food and nutrition insecurity. This in turn leads to loss of economic productivity, including a decline in the individual’s income. The consequences are high risk to even preventable infections – thus an increase in individual’s disease-burden.

Public health concerns have also remained high with the emergence of HIV/AIDS and the resurgence of TB as a result of its close linkage to HIV/AIDS. Malaria also remains one of the leading causes of illness and death in the continent, especially amongst children. Yet, it takes a second place to HIV/AIDS. Childhood diseases attributed to respiratory infections, diarhoeal diseases, measles, malaria, polio and malnutrition account for a high rate of child mortality. Many of these are also preventable if proper and accessible health care systems are in place. Pregnancy and childbirth have also resulted in the highest maternal mortality in the world leading to a situation where Africa accounts for 20% of the world births but contributes 40% of maternal deaths. Other related health issues include environmental concerns; behavior and lifestyles; conflicts and migration which can also expose people to the risk of disease and other epidemics as well as malnutrition.

Strategies to combat the Health Challenges

Through collaborative means, Set Them Free International seeks to:

(1) confront gender imbalances in terms of access to health care, improve access for the marginalized groups such as the poor i.e. set up mechanisms for increasing availability and accessibility of essential medicines and the implementation of sustainable health systems which are equitable and effective in health care delivery and which take into account the cultural context within which health systems operate because all health-related behavior influence, and is influenced by socio-cultural factors.

(2) to promote health awareness and build behavioural change capacities among communities, this includes: HIV/AIDS prevention sensitization campaigns as well as referral for treatment, care and support services provided by local partners; Malaria prevention sensitization campaigns in local communities, provision for insecticidal mosquito treated nets to pregnant mothers and children under five, ensure access to health care, etc.