AFRO-NETS> Information is vital for health improvements in Africa

[A Odutola a <chpss_abo@yahoo.com>]

Information is vital for health improvements in Africa
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Inaugural Editorial: Datelinehealth-Africa.net

Author: 
Adetokunbo O. Lucas, MDFormer Director, TDR/WHO, Geneva
Former Professor of Preventive and Social Medicine, University of 
Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
Adjunct Professor of Public Health, Harvard University School of Pub-
lic Health, Boston. MA, USA 

"The most revolutionary change that took place in medicine during the 
20th century was the adoption of the policy of ?evidence-based prac-
tice?. In sub-Saharan Africa, mortality and morbidity statistics show 
a high frequency of death, disease and disability as compared with 
other regions of the world. For example, for the African woman, the 
lifetime risk of dying as a result of the complication of pregnancy 
and childbirth is 1 in 16, as compared with 1 in 1,400 in Europe or 1 
in 3,700 in North America. Of the estimated 34 million persons living 
with HIV/AIDS, 24.5 million are in sub-Saharan Africa. 

How can African governments tackle these daunting problems especially 
in the face of limited financial resources? 

Quite clearly, they must adopt health policies that are based on good 
information and must use the most cost-effective interventions in 
their programmes?..."

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A. Odutola
CHPSS, Lagos, Nigeria
mailto:chpss_abo@yahoo.com

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