Health in Africa: Death row??

Dr. Mehenou Amouzou was in Africa when he met two employees of the Togolese Red Cross. These gentlemen went from neighborhood to neighborhood raising awareness on how to prevent cholera. They advised all present to wash their hands after washing fruit, handling toilet covers, etc.

Dr. Amouzou had a 20 minute interview with these representatives. After introducing themselves, they first served their usual discourse on cholera. That is to say, its definition, routes of contamination and tips about the practice of adding bleach to disinfect drinking water.

After this diatribe, the first questions on the source of cholera, one of the biggest killer diseases in the world, according to Dr. Amouzou is actually lack of hygiene. Indeed, to talk about cholera when you have open garbage dumps near hospitals, health centers, schools, restaurants, etc.?

How can they justify discussing improvements when they have open health centers near sewage systems, schools and markets? What about the flooding of houses by water from the streets?

To these questions, the representatives found no answer. During the discussion, they advised not to drink well water but consume tap water, a reasonable request except tap water costs the sum of 700,000 household FCA. This is the equivalent of $1400US to support the record, in addition to monthly consumption to pay excluding taxes and other taxes payable.

It is worth clarifying that the average wage in this country is 35,000FCA about $69 USD. 700,000 FCA asking to satisfy the record of the Water Board, how can people save such a sum? For 20 years the average salaries of the countries workforce, though miniscule in its amount, covered 60% to 70% of their expenditures. Current salaries cover only 20% of these costs, a drop in standard of living that promotes corruption in all sectors.

But assuming that people can pay for the tap water, could the board attest to the effectiveness of the maintenance of water reservoirs and their frequency during the year? Do we know the products used for the treatment and water conservation? Regarding these water reservoirs built in the 60s, 70s and 80s, what really is the current state of their condition? What about their maintenance and products used? This information should be available and accessible to the people who are actually protected by the government.

In addition, two representatives of the Red Cross have recommended the use of chlorine or bleach to disinfect water. Dr. Amouzou makes a reservation on the use of chlorine but acknowledges that during the 60 years until 2000, several countries had used it as a disinfectant. It is also added to public water to eliminate pathogenic bacteria that pipes and water tanks could contain. Chlorine has been hailed as the savior against cholera and other bacterial diseases. However, this method has become obsolete and replaced by others to protect human health because this use of chlorine is not inconsequential.

Indeed chlorine introduced into drinking water reacts with other natural elements to form toxins called trihalomethanes (THMs), which enter our body. These toxins have been associated with a wide range of diseases to human health such as asthma and eczema, bladder cancer and heart disease. Finally from Dr. Montague’s Foundation of environmental research showed several studies that the strong chlorinated tap water consumption by pregnant women is responsible for miscarriages and a high rate of birth defects.

Fluorine Generally found in agriculture or the chemical and metallurgical industry, fluorine is used as the main component since the 1800s, however, it is one of the most toxic pollutants to emerge early in the American mass industrialization. But it is so vital to some industries that profits outweigh the consequences of its use on human life.

In 1993 Dr. Lloyd, senior toxicologist and professor at the US Department of Pharmacology at Stanford University has highlighted the harmful effects of fluoride on health by publishing a 60-page document on prolonged exposure to fluoride. Since then evidence has snowballed.

In 1995, a landmark study conducted by Dr. Phyllis Mullenix showed that fluoride crosses the blood-brain barrier, a protection that prevents certain substances from reaching the brain and spinal cord. In a word, fluorine gets direct access to your brain, which is not the case with many toxins, viruses, and microscopic bacteria. In addition, fluorine uses another dangerous substance to seep inside the brain, aluminum. This is a neurotoxin known to contribute to neurological disorders and diseases. A 1998 study in brain research has shown that the presence of fluorine in rats significantly increased the speed at which the aluminum crosses the blood-brain barrier and accumulates in the brain. Fluoride can reduce the Intelligence Quotient "QI". Indeed, scientists have found

that the fluorine causes deterioration of the brain similar to those caused by Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. It is therefore not surprising that the correlation between the increase in Alzheimer's disease and fluoridation became an official policy of the Public Health Service states in 1951. In addition STATES other scientific studies on fluoride show a correlation with bone problems, respiratory infections and certain cancers such as cancers of the mouth. Fluoride contributes to the effects of the thyroid, bone fragility in adults and disruption of the immune system.

Unfortunately, fluoride is not the only dangerous element we drink with our drinking water. It should not be surprising how this water can kill with chemicals, chlorine, heavy metals, excluding pharmaceuticals present in drinking water.

There was even heart medications, analgesics and anticonvulsants found in drinking water to 41 million people across the United States. Several non-prescribed drugs have also been detected, such as acetaminophen, which has been linked to liver dysfunction. In unusual cases, acetaminophen can cause two serious skin reactions. The symptoms are similar to flu and usually require hospitalization but can cause death.

Do standards and regulations enforced by the government for the treatment of drinking water in order to protect the population give you a sense of security? I do not think this is the case.

It makes us believe that the water is safe because it meets the administrative principles or ethics, and that fluoride is a regulated amount. But fluorine and other toxic contaminants in drinking water, when consumed in small quantities, can accumulate in the body for a significant period and later cause health problems or harmful drug interactions.

Children, pregnant women, the elderly and very ill people are most susceptible. So there is a growing apprehension and governments must be challenged by civil society, environmental protection services, the scientific community, etc.

Alternatives to chlorine Alternatives to chlorination for water treatment exist. Several European and Canadian cities now disinfect their water with ozone instead of chlorine. Currently, a handful of American cities are the same, including Las Vegas, Nevada and Santa Clara, California.

Regarding bleach, one wonders why? Bleach is now manufactured in garages without control, which can kill people. Even the origin of those sold in pharmacies is not reliable. The purpose of this article is not to criticize pharmacies who are trying to play a very important role. But considering the products they have in stock, they should be air-conditioned, which is not the case.

According to Dr. Amouzou, the devaluation of the CFA franc to the economies deteriorated due to lack of accompanying measures. The devaluation was already imposed, was made overnight and thus gave a big hammer blow to the economy of Francophone countries. Financial difficulties in the early 90s, and mismanagement exacerbated the crisis by developing improvisation policy different from a real development policy.

The Red Cross is a noble and respected institution that starts and is trying to solve the problem of cholera in Africa. But it must coordinate its efforts with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Family to an appropriate response to the problem of cholera and other sources of disease. The campaign to recommend washing hands, put some chlorine in the water and conversely have open garbage dumps, open sewers near schools, health centers, hospitals, markets, etc.; is a failure to get at the core problems we have mentioned in this discussion.

CONTRIBUTIONS: Dr. Amouzou received his Master in Business, from the European Advanced Institute of Management, also a Certificate in Finance and Investment in Paris, France. He completed his Post Graduation work in Political Strategy, International Relation and Defense Strategies and earned his Ph.D. in International Finance.

CONTRIBUTION TO THIS ARTICLE: Raymond Bernhard West from West International Petroleum LTD; Antoinette Bowie; Amouzou Nkrumah Production; Fundacion Paraiso Sin Fronteras