The
need in Africa
Although the people of Sub-Saharan Africa most probably live on some of the
richest land in the world, they are constantly faced with social-economical
challenges. With a wealth of oil, diamonds and gold buried under fertile soil
in countries like Mozambique and Angola, it is hardly thinkable that people
are dying from hunger and poverty.
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) warned that $69 million was needed
urgently to feed some 2.6 million people currently facing malnutrition. The
WFP also said that more than 145,000 tons of food were required immediately
to ensure people in five countries -- Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and
Zimbabwe ‚ who are already facing hunger, are fed. ( May 2002)
On top of that, malaria is widely spread taking more lives in Africa then any
other disease. Over one million people are killed each year, about 3,000 a day,
and the majority of the victims are children (a child every 40 seconds). Nine
out of 10 malaria cases occur in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Furthermore, an estimated 3.4 million new HIV infections in sub-Saharan Africa
in the past year mean that 28.1 million Africans now live with the virus. AIDS
killed 2.3 million African people in 2001. According to the UNAIDS, several
parts of southern Africa have HIV prevalence rates among pregnant women exceeding
30%. Without adequate treatment and care, most of them will not survive the
next decade. (UNAIDS 2001) Our
aim
Because of the great need, DFL started the division, Aid to Africa, to reach
out to Sub-Saharan developing countries by bringing medical relief to areas
where there is none available. Three basic medical services are rendered during
outreach clinics to needy communities i.e. dental, eye and minor surgery.
The demand for proper medical care lead to the development of a mobile clinic
which we are in the process purchasing . We are also in the process of building
our first permanent clinic in Mozambique. The project is aimed primarily at
countries that have a much lower standard of living and medical care than South
Africa.
Our members donate their time and experience as qualified medical doctors for
this project. Trips consist of 2-3 week excursions, where DFL's members do the
actual clinical fieldwork. Medicines have been donated for this purpose.
As the specific need in a certain areas become more clear, DFL would also implement
some of our other successful projects.
DFL has gained valuable experience in South Africa over the past 11 years, which
we would like to offer to other needy communities.
Which
countries will be visited?
Apart from South Africa, DFL currently focus on three countries i.e. Mozambique,
Angola and Zambia. In future we might expand and include other countries e.g.
DRC (Congo), Burundi, Rwanda etc.
The Terrain, the challenge..
One of the challenging parts of our work is getting the right medical equipment
for the challenging geography and demography. Some of the places that DFL visit
do not have roads to travel on, testing the endurance of both the driver and
vehicle. Bridges are sometimes washed away after heavy rains leaving you with
only a GPS and past experience to reach your next destination. Countries like
Angola and Mozambique, a large, poor and mostly undeveloped countries, and engulfed
in civil war for many years during which much of the infrastructure collapsed.
Landmines are stills scattered over large areas making it dangerous to travel.
Why is DFL getting involved?
Doctors For Life has been involved in AIDS care, prevention, awareness and research
in South Africa for almost 10 years. Through these and other already established projects
we will be capable of introducing and sharing our skills, projects and material
to our needy and fellow African countries. At no time does Doctors For Life
International intend to forsake our current sustained projects in South Africa
but rather add value and experience to them as we encounter new challenges in
other countries.
The
need in Africa
Our
aim
Which
countries will be visited?