COUNTRIES WITH HIGH ADULT AND CHILD MORTALITY RATES Essay

COUNTRIES WITH HIGH ADULT AND CHILD MORTALITY RATES - Essay Example Selection of Angola for this analytical study was based on the fact that, the nation has the necessary resources to improve its healthcare system, yet it is one among several African nations with the highest rates of mortality and morbidity. The country also experiences acute shortage of human resources in the health sector, especially nurses. This research paper attempts to give insight into the current state of Angola’s health system, by considering responsible government institutions, healthcare delivery, nursing education and accreditation, and roles that nurses can play to aid in improvement of the country’s health outcomes. Government Angola is a republic, meaning that its government is chosen by the electorate. The country currently has a stable executive government framework. The president is usually a leader of the coalition or party that gets the highest number of votes in the National Assembly (NA) elections. The president heads the executive branch of govern ment and he or she may serve one or two five-year terms. It is also the president who nominates provincial governors. These governors then elect district administrators for further devolution of resources (UNICEF, 2008). State of Health Angola’s state of health is currently among the worst around the world, as shown by high infant mortality rate at about 154 deaths for every 1,000 newly born babies, and a mortality rate of 260 deaths for every 1,000 kids under the age of five. The country also has a diminished life expectancy of 40 years (USAID, 2010). These shocking statistics are attributable to widespread prevalence of malaria, acute respiratory diseases like pneumonia, diarrheal diseases like cholera, malnutrition and tetanus, coupled with inadequate access to healthcare. The high rate of mortality in Angola is accentuated by the nation’s lack of properly trained healthcare professionals and infrastructure damaged during the civil war. Another significant fact to d enote is the high maternal mortality rate, estimated to be 1,700 for every 100,000 births (WHO, 2010). This exceedingly high proportion can be attributed to prevalence of malaria and hepatitis, among other pregnancy-linked conditions which are left untreated. Angola is also facing several communicable ailments like sleeping sickness, tuberculosis and leprosy. Nonetheless, malaria is the greatest cause of mortality in the country, with approximately 35 percent of reported annual deaths being as a result of this disease (Costa Mendes et al., 2013). Culture and Traditional Medicine In Angola, adoption of traditional medicine and healing practices can be traced back about four millennia. The fundamental assertion that underlies traditional medicine in the country is that, it developed from    experimental observation of the manner in which man reacted to certain environmental triggers. Traditional medicine is no longer extensively practiced in Angola due to adoption of modern medicine and because about 56 percent of the populace lives in urban areas. However, people in rural areas still believe in traditional medicine and many consume purported healing portions (Connor, Averbug & Miralles, 2010). Healthcare System and Delivery Healthcare service delivery in Angola faces acute human resource issues, especially shortage and lack of qualification among care providers. There are also widespread cases