West owes Africa huge debt for its health care system
AFRICA is a continent with immense potential, rich in natural resources, cultural diversity, and human capital. Yet, it is also a continent that faces many challenges, especially in the health sector. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Africa accounts for 17 percent of the world’s population, but only one percent of the world’s health expenditure.
Moreover, Africa bears 24 percent of the global disease burden, but has only three percent of the world’s health workers.
Why is Africa’s health care system so compromised and what are the root causes of this situation?
One of the main reasons is the legacy of colonialism and exploitation that has shaped Africa’s history and development for centuries.
Colonial powers, such as Britain, France, Portugal, Belgium, and Germany, invaded and occupied most of Africa from the late 19th century until the mid-20th century, imposing their political, economic, and cultural domination over the continent. They exploited Africa’s natural resources, such as gold, diamonds, rubber, cocoa, and oil, for their own benefit, while neglecting the welfare and development of the local populations.
They also imposed arbitrary borders, dividing ethnic groups and creating artificial states that often lacked cohesion and legitimacy. They also suppressed the political and cultural expressions of the Africans, denying them their rights and dignity.
One of the areas where the colonial impact was most evident and detrimental was the health sector.
Colonial powers did not invest in building a comprehensive and accessible health care system for the Africans, but rather focused on preserving the health of their own soldiers, administrators, and settlers, who were deemed particularly vulnerable to the tropical climate and its diseases.
They also used coercive and racialised health interventions, such as sanitary segregation, forced vaccination, and criminalisation of venereal diseases, to control and discipline the African populations. The settlers also introduced new diseases, such as syphilis, influenza, and smallpox that decimated the Africans, who lacked immunity and adequate treatment. They also disrupted the traditional healing practices and knowledge of the Africans, which were often dismissed as superstition and witchcraft.
The colonial health system was not only inadequate and oppressive, but also left a lasting mark on the post-colonial health system in Africa. After gaining independence in the 1960s and 1970s, most African countries inherited a weak and fragmented health system, with poor infrastructure, equipment, and human resources.
They also faced new challenges, such as rapid population growth, urbanisation, poverty, and political instability that increased the demand and complexity of health care. Moreover, they had to deal with the legacy of colonialism, such as the lack of trust and confidence in the state and its institutions, the persistence of ethnic and regional divisions, and the dependence on foreign aid and influence.
One of the consequences of this situation is the vulnerability of Africa’s health system to epidemics and outbreaks of infectious diseases, such as cholera, malaria, tuberculosis, HIV/Aids, and Ebola. These diseases not only cause high mortality and morbidity, but also have devastating social and economic impacts, such as reducing productivity, increasing poverty, and undermining development.
For example, the recent cholera outbreaks in Zimbabwe and Zambia, which have killed more than 400 people and infected thousands in each country, have exposed the weaknesses and gaps in the health system.
One of the solutions to address this situation is to demand and obtain compensation and reparations from the former colonial powers and the West, who have been responsible for the historical and ongoing exploitation and underdevelopment of Africa.
The West owes Africa a huge debt, not only for the plundering of its natural resources and the enslavement of its people, but also for the stealing of its intellectual property and the hindering of its technological transfer.
The West has also contributed to the worsening of Africa’s health situation, by imposing unfair trade and debt policies, by supporting corrupt and oppressive regimes, and by fuelling conflicts and wars.
Therefore, the West should pay Africa for the damages and losses it has caused, and also support Africa’s health system with adequate and sustainable funding, technology, and capacity building.
However, compensation and reparations are not enough to improve Africa’s health system and situation. Africa also needs to take its own destiny into its own hands, by strengthening its political and economic sovereignty, promoting its cultural and social diversity, and fostering its innovation and creativity.
Africa has a rich and diverse heritage of healing practices and knowledge, which can be integrated and complemented with modern medicine and technology. Africa also has a vibrant and resilient civil society, which can play a vital role in advocating and participating in health care. Africa also has a young and dynamic population, which can be the driving force for change and development. Africa has the potential and the power to overcome its challenges and to achieve its aspirations.
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Marshall Ndlela is a Zimbabwean based in South Africa. He is a holder of a Master’s Degree in Finance and Accounting from the University of Chichester, England. He can be contacted via
PLASTIC pollution is a menace worldwide. Plastics are now found in every environment on the planet, from the deepest seas to the atmosphere and human bodies.
Scientific evidence describing harm to the environment and humans is growing.
Hence, the United Nations has resolved to negotiate a legally binding instrument to end plastic pollution.
Strategies to achieve this goal include provisions throughout the plastics lifespan: production, use, waste management and remediation.
In designing rules for managing plastic, it is important to understand that plastic materials and waste streams are complex.
Not all plastics are the same. And recycled plastics are not necessarily “better” — less harmful — than virgin plastics.
If they contained harmful chemicals to begin with, recycling does not make them less harmful. And sometimes they are contaminated by other substances.
We conducted a study identifying and measuring the concentration of contaminants in recycled pellets from 28 small-scale recycling facilities in the global south.
Plastic waste is often exported from high income countries to less developed countries, with few to no requirements for reporting their makeup.
Our investigation covered facilities in Cameroon, Mauritius, Nigeria, Tanzania and Togo in Africa as well others in Asia, Europe and South America.
We found 191 pesticides, 107 pharmaceuticals and 81 industrial compounds among many others in the recycled plastic pellets. Many of these chemicals could be hazardous and make the plastics unsuitable for reuse.
This finding can inform regulations for recycled plastics. The chemical composition of the plastic should be checked before it is recycled.
Chemicals used in production of plastics
More than 13 000 chemicals are currently used in the production of plastic materials and products. They can include thousands of plastics additives — but also substances that are added unintentionally.
Some unwanted chemicals form during the production or life of plastics.
Thousands of these chemicals have dangerous properties. The health risks of some others are unknown.
Throughout the plastics value chain, during production, use, waste and recycling, other chemicals can contaminate the material too.
The result may be recycled materials whose chemical composition is unknown.
Previous studies have reported the presence of plastics additives in recycled materials.
Among them were chemicals that are known to have negative effects on health. Examples include phthalates (plastic softeners), bisphenols like BPA, and UV-stabilisers used to protect plastics from sun damage and yellowing.
In our work, we established the presence of chemicals in recycled plastic that can cause harm to humans or other organisms.
They include pesticides, pharmaceuticals and fragrances. Others are chemicals that result from burning natural materials, manmade organic chemicals used for industrial applications like paint, and ultraviolet filters.
We quantified a total of 491 different chemical substances. Some had specific uses and others formed from the breakdown of products.
Some national and regional policies regulate the allowable concentration of hazardous chemicals in specific plastic products. But only 1 percent of plastics chemicals are subject to international regulation in existing multilateral environmental agreements.
Policies do not adequately address the issue of transparent reporting of chemicals in plastics across their value chain.
Also, there are no laws to govern monitoring of chemicals in recycled materials. This is a serious gap in oversight. Stronger and more globally coordinated measures are necessary.
Our findings emphasise the importance of regulating mechanical recycling, as many of the substances measured were contaminants and not plastic additives.
Many of the chemicals we identified may have contaminated the materials during use. For example, a jug used for storing pesticides will absorb some of the pesticides and will contaminate the recycling waste stream.
Plastics in the environment are also known to absorb organic pollutants.
To assess the quality of recycled plastics, it is crucial to know which chemicals are present and in what concentrations.
This can guide regulations about how recycled plastics may be used. It will also be valuable for plastics producers, waste management workers (including recyclers), consumers, and the scientific community.
A path towards safer reuse of plastics
To recycle more materials safely, several changes are necessary. These include: ◆ increased transparency regarding the use
of chemicals and their risks
◆ chemical simplification of the plastics market, so that fewer and less toxic chemicals are permitted for use
◆ improved waste management infrastructure with separated waste streams improved recycling methods, including monitoring of hazardous chemicals. Chemical simplification of plastic additives will promote sustainability, safety and regulatory compliance.
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