Africans Against Hunger and Diseases AAHDs

At aahds we are looking for ways to reach the most vulnerable people in need of urgent assistance. There are hungry ,sick and malnourished people everywhere , but effectively reaching them could be a challenge. We welcome ideas and advice on this particular topic. Please forward ideas and advice to africansagainstdiseases@gmail.com

“If you give bad food to your stomach, it drums for you to dance.” So goes the African proverb associated with food safety. While it could be said that all 1.1 billion Africans share the implications of this adage, Africa is definitely a continent of contrasts, says Lucia Anelich, PhD, principal of Anelich Consulting, Pretoria, South Africa. “We have a number of countries relying on subsistence farming and predominantly street food vending to feed their populations,” Dr. Anelich begins. “Other African countries are more developed in varying degrees. Only a few have formalized agriculture, with first world commercial farms and associated support industries such as fertilizer, seed, and crop management companies, and also well-developed manufacturing and retail sectors offering the consumer a wide variety of food products.” According to Dr. Anelich, South Africa is the most developed country on the African continent, boasting a solid infrastructure, and a well-established formal fo...

Protect Yourself With Healthy Habits Healthy habits prevent  germs   and  infectious diseases  from spreading. Learn, practice, and teach healthy habits. #1 Handle & Prepare Food Safely Food can carry  germs . Wash hands, utensils, and surfaces often when preparing any food, especially raw meat. Always wash fruits and vegetables. Cook and keep foods at proper temperatures. Don't leave food out - refrigerate promptly. #2 Wash Hands Often Learn  how, when, and why to wash your hands.   #3 Clean & Disinfect Commonly Used Surfaces Germs  can live on surfaces. Cleaning with soap and water is usually enough. However, you should disinfect your bathroom and kitchen regularly. Disinfect other areas if someone in the house is ill. You can use an EPA certified disinfectant (look for the EPA registration number on the label), bleach solution, or rubbing alcohol. #4 Cough & Sneeze Into Your Sleeve Learn  how and...

The South African government, working through four “food banks”, has distributed up to 600 tons of food to more than 100 000 people in need of emergency food relief since May, says Public Works Minister Geoff Doidge. Briefing the media in Cape Town this week, Doidge said that the four food banks, located in the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal provinces, had distributed food through 900 agencies. Food bank network Each food bank acts on behalf of social services agencies, by procuring food which is mainly donated by the food and grocery industries, government agencies, individuals and other organisations. The government plans to have a food bank, complemented by a network of village food banks, set up in each of the country’s nine provinces. The food banks are being set up under FoodBank South Africa, a non-profit organisation formed by the South African Forum for Food Security – a partnership between government, civil society and the corporate secto...

Infectious disease is a serious global health problem. However, its negative impact is felt more in sub Saharan Africa. Epidemiological figures have shown that the burden of infectious disease is highest in the African continent especially in sub Saharan Africa. A majority of people leaving in sub Saharan Africa are poor and their exposure to infectious disease worsens their poverty situation. Aside impoverishing infected individuals, infectious diseases also directly negatively impact the economy of the country involved, reducing economic growth and productivity. Diseases like malaria, HIV, tuberculosis TB, and other epidemic prone diseases like Cholera and Ebola constantly pose a threat to economic development in Sub Saharan Africa. It is therefore pertinent to invest in disease prevention strategies to curb the burden and reduce the impact of infectious diseases on the economy of countries in sub Saharan Africa. This mini review re-echoes the burden of infectious diseases and discus...