Famines in Africa

Africa is plagued with famines, many of which are triggered by natural disasters such as drought, locusts, livestock and crop disease. Recently, famines have increasingly been triggered or aggravated by conflict and war. The table below lists some African famines, their causes and estimated mortality statistics.

Year	Location	Causal triggers	Estimated mortality
1902-1908	Nigeria	Drought	5 000
1906-1907	Tanzania	Conflict	37 500
1913-1914	Sahel, West Africa	Drought	125 000
1917-1919	Tanzania	Drought & Conflict	30 000
1922	Zimbabwe	Drought	47
1929	Tanzania	Drought	500
1943-1944	Rwanda	Drought & Conflict	300 000
1949	Malawi	Drought	200
1957-1958	Ethiopia	Drought & Locusts	250 000
1966	Ethiopia	Drought	50 000
1968-1970	Nigeria	Conflict	1 000 000
1969-1974	Sahel, West Africa	Drought	101 000
1972-1975	Ethiopia	Drought	350 000
1974-1975	Somalia	Drought	20 000
1980-1981	Uganda	Drought & Conflict	30 000
1982-1985	Mozambique	Drought & Conflict	100 000
1983-1985	Ethiopia	Drought	800 000
1984-1985	Sudan	Drought	250 000
1988	Sudan	Conflict	250 000
1991-1993	Somalia	Drought & Conflict	400 000
1998	Sudan	Drought & Conflict	70 000
2003-2008	Zimbabwe???	Land reform???
2003-	Sudan	Drought & Conflict

Africa has the potential to eradicate famines. All that is required is political will and long-term commitment by national governments, regional bodies and the international community. Otherwise, many Africans will die or be pushed further into poverty and food insecurity in famines that can be prevented.

Effect of food price hikes on HIV

Whereas it is probably true that HIV occurs primarily among the poor, it is also possible that poverty plays a big role in the spread of the epidemic. Poor households affected by HIV are characterised by food insecurity and poor standards of living. Already faced with multiple social and economic shocks, the additional stress of high food prices renders it impossible for these households to cope with the threat of HIV.

A key explanation for the big impact of price hikes on HIV lies in the fundamental role that food plays in the survival of HIV patients. Nutrition is important because of the following reasons. Firstly, the infection-illness period, which on average is about eight years, can be extended by a good diet among other things. People infected by the virus require up to 50% more energy requirements (100% for children) than the uninfected. Secondly, good nutrition both in quality and quantity is actively vital in the prevention of opportunistic infections which occur because of reduced body immunity. A sound diet may therefore prolong life; more especially delay the progression of HIV to AIDS. Thirdly, adequate nutrition is of utmost importance to the patients on Anti Retroviral Therapy. Some drugs must be taken with food, and most are not effective if the patients are malnourished.

Given the dominant importance of nutrition in the life of HIV patients, high food prices constrain the ability of affected households to access good nutrition. This occurs largely because purchasing power as well as disposable income is reduced. The poor, in attempt to cope with the rising food prices reduce their dietary intake, both in quality and quantity-a hindrance to effective treatment of the disease, and prolongation of life.

Similarly, in response to the increased household expenses due to rising food prices, people tend to migrate in search of food and work. Migration is often from the rural to the urban areas. While in Urban areas, the immigrants may engage in commercial sex, or may have multiple sex partners thus increasing the risk of infection. In Africa, highest prevalence has been recorded at trading centers, border posts, and at major transport routes.

A number of households cope with food insecurity caused by rising food prices by withdrawing children from school either to reallocate resources away to food purchases or so that the children may work for food or cash. Out of school, Children are exposed to the risk of HIV infection and are denied the much needed education that would create awareness to prevent future infection.

The price hikes, and consequently food insecurity not only affect people’s standards of living but also expose them to higher risk of HIV infection and AIDS. A common trend among price hikes, food insecurity and HIV/AIDS is that they are all an echo of what has been and somewhat a prediction of what is to come. What is important now is to draw lessons from the past, and make decisions in the present that will influence a better future. A feasible all encompassing resolution, that is already active in many countries, is to create/strengthen synergies between the different sectors of the economy such as agriculture, health, education, social welfare, finance, gender, local governments, civil society, NGOs and communities that will improve support systems, promote education and HIV sensitization, build household resilience to shocks, promote livelihoods, and mitigate coping strategies that push HIV infection or deter HIV treatment.

Link to full article in the NEPAD newsletter

African cultural practices may further food insecurity

Food security is all about the stable availability, accesses and utilization of food to support a healthy and active lifestyle. Absense of any of the above pillars implies food insecurity or vulnerability to food insecurity. The measures of food insecurity among others are malnutrition, stunting, wasting, low birth weight, morbidity, mortality rate and coping strategies employed.

Among the many causes of food and nutrition insecurity such as low agricultural production, low purchasing power, political instability, disease, drought, e.t.c, is cultural practices. Some cultural practices prevent children and women (including pregnant and lactating women) from accessing a balanced and nutritious diet, which results in malnutrition, starvation, stunting, wasting, illness and death.

For example, in the past, many African cultures forbade women from eating foods such as eggs, milk, fish, chicken, all of which are rich in protein. In some cultures today, only men are allowed to eat the gizzard of a chicken because it is believed to make men potent and women infertile.

Some cultures forbid pregnant and lactating women from eating furits and vegetables claiming that they are harmful to infants.

In some parts of Africa, women and children only eat after the men have had thier fill. This leaves an inadequate food in both quantity and quality for the women and children.

The result of these and many more cultural practices is malnutrition, stunting, wasting, morbidity and mortality in children. This not only affects them as children but also affects their physical and mental capacity as adults. Women will have problems during pregnancy and birth.

In keeping up with the Jonses, some households in Africa avoid eating widely growing and readily available, highly nutritious vegetables as they are considered inferior foods. Those households miss out on balanced diets (consequently malnutrition) and spend their already meagre income on purchasing food in markets.

Africa has an abundant supply of food and is bursting with naturally growing nutrient rich fruits and vegetables. Why spend money on food and yet we can freely harvest it from our backyards! Let us put aside our pride and ignorance and take advantage of nature's free gifts. Let us let go of those cultural practices that hold us back, rather than benefit us.