Urbanization and health in Africa : exploring the interconnections between poverty, inequality and the burden of disease

There are few changes in the history of human existence comparable to urbanization in scope and potential to bring about biologic change. The transition in the developed world from an agricultural to an industrial-urban society has already produced substantial changes in human health, morphology and growth (Schell, Smith and Bilsborough, 1993, p.1). By the year 2000, about 50% of the world s total population will be living crowded in urban areas and soon thereafter, by the year 2025 as the global urban population reaches the 5 billion mark more of the world s population will be living in urban areas. This has enormous health consequences. By the close of the twenty-first century, more people will be packed into the urban areas of the developing world than are alive on the planet today (UNCHS (Habitat), 1996, p.xxi). Africa presents a particularly poignant example of the problems involved, as it has the fastest population and urban growth in the world as well as the lowest economic development and growth and many of the poorest countries, especially in Tropical Africa. Thus it exemplifies in stark reality many of the worst difficulties of urban health and ecology (Clarke, 1993, p.260). This essay is therefore concerned to analyse the trends of urbanization in Africa. This is followed by an overview of the environmental conditions of Africa s towns and cities. The subsequent section explores the links between the urban environment and health. Although the focus is with physical hazards it is important to note that the social milieu is also vital in the reproduction of health. The paper concludes by providing some policy recommendations

Structural Crisis, Dependent Capitalist Development and Regional Inequality in Ghana

The Ghanaian political economy is in the throes of a deep and multi-faceted crisis symptomatic of institutional and economic breakdowns. Evidence of political instability is the fluidity of change of both civilian and military regimes. As a social crisis it is characterized by a profound awareness (at least by the new left iritellectuals) of the necessity for radical structural reforms

Women's Household Environmental Caring Roles in the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area: a Qualitative Appraisal

Women play key roles in the care and management of the home and in environment affecting heath risks and family well being. Results from a qualitative survey in Accra indicate that environment problems in and around the homes are a particularly serious health burden for women and children, escalated by poverty. These issues warrant more attention in environmental debates and programs. Improvements need to come with better economic conditions and improved services, but also through changes in gender relations to the advantage of women. Such changes will improve power relations. Résumé Les femmes jouent un rôle clé dans l'entretien, et la gestion des foyers et de l'environnement et influent sur les risques sanitaires et le bien-être familial. Le résultat d'un sondage qualitatif mené à Accra montre que les problèmes liés à l'environnement autour des maisons posent des problèmes sanitaires extrêmement serieux aux femmes et aux enfants. Ces problèmes sont aggravés par la pauvreté. Cette situation demande que l'on se prenne sérieusement aux débats et programmes portant sur l'environnement. Le progrès doit être accompagné de meilleures conditions économiques et une amélioration des services par le biais des changements dans les relations en matière de genre au profit des femmes. Un tel changement pourrait améliorer le pouvoir de la femme. Inst. Af. Stud Vol.19(2) 2003: 67-8

Ways of creating usable, multipurpose greenspace in impoverished settlements in cities of the Global South

This chapter looks at how urban greenspace has developed and is being managed in Hanoi, Viet Nam and Accra, Ghana as examples of how problems faced by communities and local governments in providing and protecting urban green infrastructure have developed and are being overcome. Hanoi is interesting in that due to its colonial history, greenspace planning has been influenced by ideas from France, the Soviet Union, and domestic economic liberation and globalization. Remotely sensed satellite images show that land formerly consisting mostly of greenspaces and open spaces is being converted to paved and constructed surfaces. The first is the cost of keeping green areas as compared to the benefits of destroying greenspaces in the city environment. In urban planning, greenspaces often refer to publicly accessible lands that contain a high proportion of vegetation and are mainly designed for leisure activities