Health Niche

Health Niche

Focuses on various aspects of health related work including direct care and awareness about health and nutrition information.

Three Millennium Development Goals target health. MDG 4 is to reduce child mortality. MDG 4 is geared to reducing the death rate for newborns and for young children. There are many children who die from easily preventable causes. By increasing the number of skilled professionals present at birth, the risk to mother and child is reduced because of medical knowledge at hand. The child receives the necessary vaccines for easily preventable diseases and the mother is informed of when to return for later vaccines.

The 5th MDG is to improve maternal health. The aim of MDG 5 is to reduce the death rate of mothers and mothers to be. Many maternal deaths are birth related, and by increasing the number of live births with a skilled professional in attendance, the risk to both the mother and child is greatly reduced. Supplying mothers and mothers to be with relevant information not only empowers women to make informed decisions, but also makes them aware of health risks related to maternity.

The 6th MDG is to combat HIV/ AIDS, malaria, and other diseases. MDG 6 focuses on the fight against HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases. Due to the scale of the AIDS pandemic it is important to address it clearly and effectively. New academic studies have found that HIV/AIDS reduces one’s chances of escaping the poverty trap. There are many diseases for which preventions and cures are available today, but people who do not have access to these medicines continue to die. MDG 6 aims to supply people with the necessary medicines and supplies and thus reduce the number of preventable deaths.

Health in Africa

  • The newborn death rate in sub-Saharan Africa is 145 for every 1000 live births
  • 73% of children in Africa receive measles vaccines
  • The maternal death rate in sub-Saharan Africa is 900 for every 100,000 births
  • Only 42% of women are treated by a skilled professional for the duration of their pregnancy
  • Two thirds of those living with HIV globally live in sub-Saharan Africa, most of whom are women
  • 28% of children under 5 in sub-Saharan African are underweight
  • Nearly 1 million people die of malaria each year, these are mostly children

The extremely high levels of death due to disease and child birth complications within Africa have reduced age expectancy levels in some countries to as low as 39 years.

Issues in health contribute to high childbirth, which is subsequently rapidly increasing the population to unsustainable levels. Grassroots Partners addressing health and medical issues are required to address a range of initiatives: preventative, treatment, and those addressing the larger issues of poverty and unemployment that can go alongside sickness.

Volunteering with Health Programs & Services

Volunteers working in with Grassroots Partners in regards to health can work in a variety of areas including house calls, medical and nursing work, and community education. Even with a number of our grassroots that do not focus on health, there is value in having general check-ups offered (such as to an orphanage, school, or women’s AID’s group).

For those without specific qualification, research and education and resource development for health issues are areas of need.

Learn More

  • 4th MDG
  • 5th MDG
  • 6th MDG
  • 28: Stories of AIDS in Africa by Stephanie Nolen
  • Race Against Time: Searching for Hope in AIDS-Ravaged Africa by Stephen Lewis

If you have specific questions regarding SpanAfrica’s Health niche, grassroots and volunteers can contact us to put you in touch with past volunteers, team members, and grassroots partners that can provide first-hand insights.

SpanAfrica Resources for Grassroots & Volunteers

Health Curriculum resources

These specific resources have been developed by the SpanAfrica team and volunteers and can likewise be requested through email.