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Article: Public health in Africa--the role of national public health institutes.(Issues in Public Health)
- Article from:
- South African Medical Journal
- Article date:
- November 1, 2007
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2007 South African Medical Association. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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The trends of reduced life expectancies in many nations of the developing world, and particularly in Africa, clearly reflect the perilous state of public health in these countries. Examples include Sierra Leone, with a life expectancy of 34 years, Botswana (37 years), and Malawi (38 years). (1) The extent of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Africa, the ravages of malaria and other persistent endemic illnesses, the threat of pandemic influenza and other emerging and re-emerging infections, and the growing disease burden associated with chronic diseases and injuries pose major obstacles to human well-being and development across the continent. (2) An examination of the status of ...