Kenya's Starving Future

Lack of nutrients to youngsters in Kenya is now being seen as a health and economic problem.  Today’s children are tomorrow’s work force, and officials in Kenya are starting to see a future that is not looking so bright.  In this article, the author states that many children in Kenya are suffering from malnutrition.  The children lack important nutrients like iodine, iron, and vitamin A; deficiencies in these key nutrients are causing retardation, death, and stunted growth in many children.

It is heartbreaking to hear of children struggling to survive in this country, and even more devastating that situations in economics are not looking up because of the nutrition struggle.  Apparently, nutrition in infants is where a major problem exists.  Mothers choose to bottle feed young children instead of breastfeeding, which is causing many issues for the little ones because the water that is being mixed with the formula is not boiled to the right temperature and is very toxic.  Therefore, children are consuming toxins at such a young age and they are being deprived of the nutrients that are in breast milk.

The article stresses that good nutrition to expecting mothers and young children are very important for developing a stronger nation in the future.  Kenya depends on the upcoming children to support them and compete with other nations, but it is going to be extremely difficult to depend on children when "Out of every 100 child deaths, 55 per cent have under nutrition as a contributing factor."  It is clear that nutrition needs to be a major concern, but Africa as a whole needs more aid to help in the nutrition process.

While the economy and nutrition of children are indirectly related there will come a day when Kenya will have major problems, maybe even more than the present day issues they are trying to overcome, if they do not make nutrition a top concern.  I think other countries also need to look at these struggling counties and try to make an effort to save lives and qualities of life for young children in Africa.  In America we are very lucky to have the amenities and luxuries that most do not have.  I think now more than ever donations and supporting children in Africa is so important for the future of economics.   

This is an excellent graph to show the importance of nutrition and how it is all interlinked





ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

This is an example of the water supply Kenya has to make formula for the children.  Not healthy looking at all!

ehw.org

This is a link to a website showing examples of the malnutritioned children in Africa.

E-Wastes Dumped in Nigeria

In this article I read about a major problem that is reoccurring in modern day Africa.  I read the article, “Nigeria probes disappearance of 'toxic waste' ship”, and it is disappointing to hear that Nigeria and other parts of Africa are becoming dumping points for electronic waste.  Apparently a ship from the United Kingdom (UK) dumped off seven containers that officials believe contained electronic waste.  The electronic waste that the article talks about could be anything from computers and electronics of that sort or other toxic waste.

Here is a picture of Lagos, Nigeria ports

travel-images.com

Here is a picture of electornic wastes that are over polluting Nigeria

weblog.greenpeace.org

I begin to wonder why Nigeria?  It must be the thought of many people that dumping toxic waste in Africa is an easy way to avoid responsibility.  Not disposing of electronic waste is pollution, and it is ridiculous to hear that trusted, educated officials are sending ships to Nigeria to pollute the world and a different country.

The second question I begin to ponder is how did the ship leave the port after dumping the electronic waste?  After reading the article, it is clear that security is a continuing problem in the ports of Nigeria.  Employees working at the port have record of the ship arriving, but have not the slightest idea of how or when exactly the ship left.  Lack or security is most likely the major reason other countries are choosing Nigeria to dump off toxic materials.

It is important that they act sooner rather than later on developing a better security system and documentation system in the ports of Nigeria, because it is unfortunate to see in the news that 400,000 second hand computers end up in the ports of Lagos, Nigeria every month!  The people of Nigeria have the right to live a safer less toxic life, and this issue could raise many health concerns in the future.            

Here is a link a helpful, informative clip on e-waste.  It talks about e-waste in relation to the United States.