Month: February 2015

“Poverty in Sub-Sahara Africa should be tackled”

Poverty is still an issue in sub-Sahara Africa and it isn’t being resolved by the countries who can provide aid. There is and always has been a wide range of issues which need to be addressed, a worldwide strategy needs to be implemented to reduce or totally erase poverty and this has to start from the UN, aid agencies and private individuals working together to accomplish the ambitious global targets.

One of the first ways European countries can help sub-Saharan Africa is to ensure they have access to hygiene and sanitation. Without this you cannot create a self-sufficient societies. It makes no difference what else you do, this will always be an impassable barrier. Methods of fulfilling this most effectively is by educating the young and the old on how to keep clean and how to have good hygiene. Diseases and illnesses occur frequently in sub-Saharan Africa and the substantial number of conflicts are all reasons for the continuation of poverty. These diseases and illnesses cripple the economy of these countries. Developing countries, in Sub-Sahara Africa are the ones which have high percentage of diseases and don’t have an efficient healthcare. Also the lack of investment in these countries doesn’t help them develop further and create foundations for a thriving economy.

Diseases and illnesses are typically found in the sub-Sahara Africa  where countries are under-developed and hygiene tends to be unsatisfactory. Common diseases in these areas are HIV and malaria are the most damaging. Studies from 2012 show the percentage of HIV in 3 Sub-Sahara countries; South Africa (18%), Swaziland (26%) and Botswana (23%). These are staggering figures which shows around a fifth of their population have HIV. Neema and her sister Fatuma live in Burangi, a remote village in Botswana surrounded by water where neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are endemic. Just five years old, Neema has already been sick for several years. As Fatuma grows taller and stronger, her little sister has grown weaker. This just one of many children who suffer each day of their lives. Every day experts from all around the world travel to try and help these people so they have more awareness of the dangers. Numerous people under-rate many African countries due to the number of diseases, also many of these countries have beautiful panoramas and attractions which are not being used to their potential.

Firms are everyday knocking on our London doors asking for us to donate and support the charity services. How would you feel knowing that the money you have earned and then donated is not reaching the correct destination? An estimated £10.5 billion pounds was donated to charities in 2013. This is a significant amount to improve life quality and to save many African families. A study has shown that in the well-known charities, under 10 percent of citizen money has been used for poverty related activities. The rest of the money went towards charity founders, solicitors and operators. According to a 13 year old called Sarah who lives in Kenya, states that when she becomes 14 she is forced to marry a random man. By this happening she will not get any education, freedom and all she has to do is carry litres of water around everyday. In addition Sarah reveals that there is very little help coming from charities and much improvement can’t be done.

Yet another weapon against poverty is the uncontrollable wars that occur throughout the years creating devastation for the people. Huge investments are made into artillery leaving the more important areas of the country untouched. The people are becoming desperate as many of their shelters are being destroyed leaving them homeless and in greater misery. A country that suffers from a considerably high civil war rate is Angola, preventing them from becoming a successful nation. In Angola, the food situation continues to deteriorate as UNITA rebels maintain their campaign to drive rural populations into government-held cities and towns, the country just keeps sinking and poverty just keeps growing. Also food production is expected to go down significantly as many farmers have been forced to abandon their fields. In the meantime, more than a quarter of the countries in sub-Saharan Africa are poorer now than in 1960. Last year, perhaps the most striking example came from Liberia, which has received massive amounts of foreign aid. In 2011, Liberia totalled $765 million and made up 73 per cent of its gross national income. But last year every one of 25,000 students who took an exam to enter the University of Liberia failed, these countries are moving in the wrong direction, they need help and you can have an impact.

The British government is extremely generous in foreign aid donations, it spent £8.7 billion on foreign aid in 2012, showing how loving and caring the people are in supporting these nations. But if money alone was the solution we would be on track not just to improve the lives of poor people today but ending poverty for ever. The idea that large donations can relieve poverty has dominated the theory of economic development and the thinking in many international aid agencies.

In conclusion, poverty is a problem that needs urgently to be tackled. We want a poverty free world, avoiding all the usual excuses. Determination, compassion and love all need to come out of everyone of us to tackle the so called ‘never ending poverty’.

Another dark, icy winter’s night crumbled viciously around London; as always everyone is rushing home. Turning my head, my eyes are dazzled and not quite sure what it was, a vivid light shone almost burning my eyes. The IMAX was the only thing alive and the contrast in light around me was startling. Sitting on the dull red seats on the London bus stops, I was there alone.    

On my way home, shivering with cold, a vast amount of wind was piercing through my clothes. I could barely move my body let alone my numb fingers and I wasn’t able to stabilise my movements. Normally, my journey home is calm, however today a strange sensation, grew slowly into me. The fog outside the bus started whispering around the windows as if it was trying to communicate something to me. Street lights above me were flickering like they was losing their lives. My mind was playing tricks with me, leaving me on edge. How long would it take to reach my stop? The overflow of passengers left me breathless, no oxygen, only the smell of sweaty people. After being squashed against the rigid metal bars for what felt like an eternity, I was finally able to escape out of the bus. The doors swung open with a hiss and I made my escape. My first feeling was relief as I absorbed the pleasant night air.

As I strolled along the alleyway, I began to see some weird looking shadows which seemed to be creeping and sniffing every step I took. Ignoring the human looking shadow, I persevered on as I don’t believe in any of that supernatural silliness. Confusion, paranoia and bewilderment were starting to take place in my brain though. I always walk down that same alleyway and why would it be any different? 

My musing was interrupted by a sudden click directly above my head, the street lights disappeared and plunged me into darkness. Everything was pitch black.

I decided to picked up the pace and focus on nothing else but to get home. Being a little clumsy and walking fast isn’t a good combination, because in a flash I tripped over some old bin bag. At this moment I began to feel frightened and the flash back of the human shadows hit me and instantly I started to reflect. I Slithered across the rough road, completely terrorized about what I was sensing. Step by step, I carried on my journey through the alleyway constantly observing what is around me. I had a fast and intense heart beat, heavy breathing and an immense amount of sweat sliding down my face completely ignoring how cold it is. At this point my senses were exceeding the norm, I had high-sensed hearing, my vision was beyond its range, my sense of smell was outrageous and my sense of touch was extremely sensitive. I was alert and ready for any circumstance that could arise out of no where. 

“Stomp, stomp, stomp”- heavy footsteps that were speeding up behind me and I could feel that they were just a few feet away from me. I didn’t dare to look back. Suddenly I felt a rough and thick hand squeeze my shoulder, a deep voice with a sweet tone spoke:                                                                                                   “Don’t be scared, just come with me and everything will be fine”. At this moment my brain was panicking, out of control and not knowing what to do. 

My legs got a boost of energy and unconsciously one leg was chasing the other at a speed I’ve never seen before. Running through all the broken concrete was like an obstacle course but my main focus was to get home. Loud roars was all I could hear, seemed like I was being chased by a pack of dogs. The force that was helping me carry on was God, I didn’t stop praying, it was my only savior as kept sprinting. The further I ran and the more corners I turned the quieter the roars were getting. As I stepped to the front door, I started feeling my pockets and clothes trying to find my keys. My heart sank, I could hear the jangling noise of the keys but they were no where to be found. Squeezing every pocket I had, even where the keys couldn’t fit. So close from placing the shiny metal into the key hole and enter safety. 

In an instant I fell to the ground in exhaustion…. It’s over, it’ over.