Description:I have been on this wonderful project where I have been learning all about what is going on in the world. I was looking at the kind of troubles that countries like South Africa, Namibia and Tanzania in Africa had to cope with everyday. When I looked at South Africa on the internet, I found out that it is has had 13 years of democracy after many years of apartheid.
Africa has many problems with its unequal society. I read on the DFID website that about 35% of South Africans are very poor. Almost 28% of South Africans in the formal sector are unemployed. Around 40% of people in the informal sector are without a job. It was really sad to read that an estimated number of people infected with HIV is at 5.6 million, of which 3.1 million are women! Millennium Development Goal 6 combats the spread of HIV and AIDS in Africa. I am glad that help by support from DFID can lead to a reduction in HIV infection rates with better education and medicine. This will also include a 50% increase in Tuberculosis detection and treatment.
In 2006 a Regional Plan to work on growth and poverty for Southern Africa was launched. The plan was for a 5% increase in fruit and vegetable exports from Southern Africa and for a reduction in waiting time by 30% at border posts by 2010. The supermarkets would also have 30% more input from within the country than from the international market. The transport costs for landlocked countries reduced by 25% due to improved roads, ports and the rail infrastructure.
I am really glad to know that the British Government is trying to make Southern Africa a great place for all people to work and live. Working with other organisations can also help create jobs, build peace and security and reduce hunger by better planning for it and looking at the needs of the poor. Over the next five years with the regional programmes, DFID will contribute £20 million a year. I want more people to be aware of how the problems are being dealt with and what great work is being done.
Marangu village, Tanzania.Photograph courtesy of Richard Albutt