Too many believe the west and the third world countries still are as far apart as night and day concerning health and prosperity. Hans Rosling, a professor of global health at Swedens Karolinska Institute who spent 20 years working in Africa, spoke at the TED conference held last year, debunking third world myths by showing some of the best stats ever seen. Rosling states that it is not only a good economy that make these countries develop, with high mortality rate and without good health care money would get them no where. Rosling points out that third world countries are no longer worlds apart from the west. In fact, most of the third world is on the same trajectory toward health and prosperity, and many are even moving twice as fast as the west did. He also talked about the difference in growth between all the regions within the countries and put further weight on the already heavy need to come up with different ways of fighting diseases and other health problems, no longer one plan for a whole continent, but one for every part of every country.
To watch the video click here
In July this year another TED conference was held, Hans Rosling spoke again, this time revealing new insights on poverty. He talked about how important technology is for Africa and the need for a market to get away from poverty. Rosling layed out the basics of what the african people need to get into the market, such as: a good education so they will not be cheated at the market, good health care so they will be able to go to work and information so they will know when to go to the market and with what products. He said “My experience from working 20 years in Africa is that the seemingly impossible is possible”. “Africa went from a very bad situation 50 years ago to a very decent situation 100 years ago in Europe today.” He also said they have a functional national state, as it is full of corruption I would eliminate “functional”. Anyway, the truth is Africa has come a long way and with the rise of the market poverty will become history, we just need to bring forth the market.
To watch the video click here
To visit TED’s website click here
– Kajsa, Admin Twende Twende
admin.twende.twende@gmail.com
