"Epidemics and the Health of African Nations, explores Africa’s vulnerability to disease, and demonstrates that this disease occurs commonly because of political and economic influences. These factors also determine the way epidemics are managed and controlled. News footage of epidemics and disease in Africa is a familiar sight. Yet these outbreaks are often presented without reference to the preceding events and conditions that have triggered them. Authors extract lessons from case studies in different parts of Africa; challenge conventional frameworks about disease to argue for a multi-faceted ‘syndemics’ approach that takes account of the interrelationship between disease and political and socioeconomic contexts; examine the factors affecting the efficacy of frontline healthcare workers and point to the diseases and health challenges of Africa’s future. A key argument is that a well-functioning health system is at the core of a country’s capacity to provide quality healthcare to counter an epidemic. Authors argue that it would be more productive to mobilise resources to build strong health systems across Africa than to mobilise international resources in a panicked response to an outbreak. Alongside this, a case is made for the equally important need to address the structural drivers of vulnerability to diseases. It is futile to treat patients who will return home to poor nutrition and inadequate water services that will expose them again to disease. This volume brings African experts together to probe possible solutions to the continent’s heavy burden of disease. The recurring themes in this book and the insights extracted from individual case studies will be helpful in devising policy for the control of disease and the combatting of epidemics in Africa."
“流行病和非洲国家的健康，探讨了非洲对疾病的脆弱性，并证明这种疾病的普遍发生是由于政治和经济的影响。这些因素也决定了流行病的管理和控制方式。非洲流行病和疾病的新闻镜头是一个熟悉的景象。然而，这些暴发往往是在没有提及触发它们的先前事件和条件的情况下出现的。作者从非洲不同地区的案例研究中汲取经验教训；挑战关于疾病的传统框架，主张采用多层面的“通俗”方法，考虑疾病与政治和社会经济背景之间的相互关系；研究影响一线医护人员工作效率的因素，并指出非洲未来的疾病和健康挑战。一个关键论点是，一个运转良好的卫生系统是一个国家提供高质量医疗服务以应对流行病的核心能力。作者认为，调动资源在非洲各地建立强大的卫生系统，比调动国际资源应对疫情更具成效。在解决结构性疾病的同时，还需要解决结构性疾病。治疗那些将回到家中营养不良和水服务不足的病人是徒劳的，因为这将使他们再次面临疾病。这本书汇集了非洲专家，探讨解决非洲大陆沉重疾病负担的可能办法。本书中反复出现的主题和从个别案例研究中提取的见解将有助于制定控制非洲疾病和防治流行病的政策。”
