Health and Poverty

Abstract

Globally, 9.7 million children under age five die from preventable causes each year. Yet, between 1990 and 2006, about 27 countries (mainly in sub-Saharan Africa) made no progress in reducing child mortality. Over 60% of maternal deaths occur in the poorest countries in the world. HIV/AIDS, malaria and Tuberculosis - highly preventable diseases - are some of the leading killers of children and women especially in the developing south. The following insights have been distilled from the literature:

• We need to increase funding for the prevention, treatment and research of malaria is. • We need systematic research on the linkages and connections between good governance and HIV/AIDS and between poverty and HIV/AIDS. • We need to invest time and ideas into how to promote equality in health outcome (not just the means to good healthcare). • We need to actively promote a good food/nutrition-based approach to prolonging the lives of those living with HIV/AIDS. • We need - above all else- to hard wire education, job promotion, political freedom and social justice into health solutions.

Keywords: Health, Disease, Mother, Child, mortality, morbidity

JEL Classification: I12