Health Communication Issue and Modernization in Africa

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Introduction

Modernization theories are widely applied to the explanation of modernization processes within society. This term is frequently used to denote the transition from the ‘traditional’ way of life to a ‘modernized’ one. Therefore, there are numerous reasons to examine the problems of underdeveloped or still developing countries and explore their issues. Modernization theories concern a wide range of topics: economic, political, and others. One of the significant problems, such as countries, specifically the African ones, face is the adequate medication supply. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the communication of health in the countries of Africa and the influence of modernization theory on the issue.

Modernization

Nowadays, the concept of modernity represents a general notion. It is conditioned by the experience of western cultures on other ones that are economically, culturally, or politically underdeveloped. All the global countries are disapproved of modernity. According to the philosophical notion, the post-war years imposed a concept of international communication that was supposed to develop third-world countries and subsequently modernize them. The idea of global communication was supposed to spread among the developing and underdeveloped countries, offering them transformation from traditional societies to modern ones with the spread of new technologies and norms.

Moreover, it was utilized to promote the norms, standards, and foundations of the politically and economically developed countries. Modernization is a highly arguable topic as its definition encompasses numerous factors such as social systems, economic and governmental structures, human resources, education, and health issues. The financial definition of the concept defines modernization as a transition from traditional, agriculturally based societies to societies that are based on trade and industry (Atabong, 2019). Some sources suggest that modernization on the societal level exists under the following assumptions: the future is predetermined and will develop on its own, economics should be the prevalent force. Furthermore, there are the following assumptions: the individual stands on the top over family and community; communities can exist regardless of the moral stances, which is generally considered as a degraded traditional society. Modernization is thought to be an inevitable process for any country. The proofs of its growth are found within the rural communities that somehow come down to the transition.

Proponents of modernization assert that the process brings about educational advancement, positive and flexible attitude towards life, its concepts, and other spheres of everyday activities, and social and geographic mobility. There are, however, opponents to modernization. They claim that modernization provides a description of the breakdown of culture and traditional roles and how this has impacted society. Some people give up on their traditions, abandoning their learning, thus ruining the entire layer of the community.

Cultural Development

There is also an opposite opinion concerning the growth of modernization and cultural development. The opponents of the theory claim that no “future will take care of itself”. It is all about people who should be responsible for their actions. Therefore, they suggest that the modernization processes must be slowed down so that the individuals themselves could organize and plan their future without relying on others. They also suppose that this can be achieved to make the world a better and simpler place. Singh et al. (2015) state that “this opposition to modernization is held by over 200 million peasant farmers in 70 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas, who are finding a voice in the sustainable development discourse” (Singh et al., 2015, p. 641). For instance, people from those countries believe that they have a right to food sovereignty (Singh et al., 2015).

Development is frequently viewed from an economic perspective, but typically it encompasses many facets of society. In addition to this, the notion includes human nature and centers on it as a crucial concept of development (Charlton & Andras, 2003). Development is often seen as a change that ameliorates the conditions of human welfare and general well-being so that all people can make choices on their own without relying on other subjects. Thus, it is evident that a human is the center of the developmental process. It is also connected with knowledge distribution, its application, and its use among the generations. As a result, when human beings are involved in the process of development, they create new information, transmit it to others, and on the whole, substantially contribute to social progress.

The processes of modernization and development have health implications, both positive and negative. There are several health impacts that modernization holds: increased poverty, loss of extended families, loss of traditional knowledge, poor nutrition, and land deterioration. One of the most common repercussions concerns health, such as “increased high density living in city slums, increased sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and risk-taking behavior, the disintegration of families, and increased alcohol use as young men lose their traditional roles” (Singh et al., p. 642).

On the other hand, some positive impacts of the process can be extracted. Those comprise more comprehensive access to health facilities, greater access to various tests and drugs, improved knowledge of accessing different types of care and getting vaccinated (Charlton & Andras, 2003). In terms of development, changes that lead to improved health of families include increased female education, increased paid employment, greater autonomy for women in decision-making, family planning, and more equality and respect in marriages and the community. Making the distinction between development and modernization, while overly simplistic, acknowledges that not all change is positive.

People and Countries Affected by the Issue

It was mentioned that among the significant changes, modernization, and development concerns is the health situation. The introduction of new medicines has become a popular movement in developing and underdeveloped countries. Therefore, the topic of health and medical care is at the forefront of any governments’ policies. However, some governments are still devoid of the power of producing their drugs and prefer to acquire costly medications from abroad, making local people spend huge amounts of money on supplements.

The Issue Selected

The African continent is rich with economic resources though it still suffers from poverty. The most acute issue African countries encounter is the lack of medicine that leads to a high percentage of the death rate. Furthermore, African countries are vulnerable in this sense because they are densely populated, and access to medicines is limited. This fact is conditioned by the pharmaceutical market that is only legitimate in several countries. Thus, as the population grows, there is less chance of equally supplying ill people with drugs. According to the Pheage (n. d), “approximately 1.6 million Africans died of malaria, tuberculosis and HIV-related illnesses in 2015” (para. 1). Moreover, “having no access to medicines, Africans are susceptible to the three big killer diseases on the continent: malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS” (Pheage, n. d., para. 1). These diseases can be prevented by taking the needed drugs timely, but some of them are still unavailable, or the residents merely do not have money to purchase them.

There is a need to define what health is and identify its components. The World Health Organization (WHO) suggested its definition of heath: “A state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity; it is a fundamental right.” The definition implies that health is not only a matter of the physical condition of a person but rather complex well-being. The other meaning has another approach to healthcare. It implies that essential health care should be based on scientifically approved sound, and practical methods and technology, which are universally acceptable to all human beings.

These definitions of health incorporate a perception of a healthy person not solely in good physical condition but also in a good mental and social one. Therefore, health care can be defined as basic, preventative, and curative services that are of a quality that will, in the majority of cases, lead to an accurate diagnosis and cure for commonly encountered illnesses.

Importance of the Issue

The selected issue is crucial to examine for me because apart from the problems of hunger, poverty, and unsanitary, it represents a significant threat to the entire African population. Moreover, as Africa represents great potential as a developing continent, the health issue of medicine shortage should be resolved to put the continent onto a higher level of development. But the African government does not have the necessary production capacity to create drugs on its own. Hence, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, and Tanzania are currently developing production capacity (Pheage, n. d.) Many African political leaders and activists believe that worldwide pharmaceutical manufacturers refuse to supply medications and technical equipment for the production to the continent. “For example, in 2001, 39 international pharmaceutical companies dragged the South African government to court to challenge its plans to manufacture and import cheap, generic HIV/AIDS drugs” (Pheage, n. d., para. 13). Therefore, the reluctance of the government is the main issue of this continent.

There are challenges to having a continuous supply of medicine in West Africa, compounded by the following aspects:

Lack of sufficient infrastructure, including inadequate transportation systems, power supply, and other means.
The healthcare sector is highly dependent on the medications, drugs, vaccines, medical technologies produced and delivered from abroad, particularly from India and China. As a result, the opportunity for indigenous healthcare growth is doubted.
The materials and techniques needed for medicine production are exported from other countries. It is stated that “there is only one small-scale manufacturer of active pharmaceutical ingredients located in Ghana” (Ekeigwe, 2019, p. 2). There is a minimal chance of producing raw materials within the country.
Another point concerns the work of professionals and lack of funding: “manufacturers in the region are finding it difficult to attain WHO (World Health Organization) pre-qualification because of financial and technical constraints” (Ekeigwe, 2019, p. 2).
Technical limitations include, but are not limited to, qualified personnel, necessary equipment, and reference materials. Financial restrictions have two aspects – resources (local capital accumulation) are limited, and exchange rates are biased against imports, i.e. local currencies have insignificant equivalence rates to currencies of international trade.
Moreover, there are not enough professionals in the sphere of drug development.
The production of medicines for West Africa is a complicated business with a minimal rate of return. In capitalism, capital preferably flows to a destination with a high return on investment, unless some political intervention forces the opposite.
There are no clinical research organizations or bioequivalence centers in the West African region.

The Improvements

However, the situation seems to have enhanced since the times when the vaccine against measles was introduced. As a result of the vaccination introduction, the disease’s death rate dropped to only 10% (Pheage, n. d.). It also “eliminated Haemophilus influenza type b in certain countries, eliminated tetanus from the north and southern Africa, while new HIV infections have declined since the mid-1990s, and, in 2009, 37% of patients requiring antiretroviral treatment were receiving it” (Pheage, n. d., para. 7). Vector control was the cause of the spread of malaria. “In tuberculosis treatment, the introduction of directly observed treatment has reduced non-adherence, and in most parts of Africa, multidrug-resistant tuberculosis is, fortunately, still rare.” The creative involvement and education of communities are aiming to eliminate guinea worm disease. “Egypt, Morocco, South Africa, and Tunisia have made progress in local pharmaceutical productions” (Pheage, n. d., para. 12). It is stated that Morocco has over 40 pharmaceutical companies that supply medications to the neighboring countries (Pheage, n. d). Overall, the situation seems to have slightly improved after all these interventions.

The availability of medicines is another critical factor apart from affordability. Countries such as Ghana and South Africa are making efforts to ensure access to medicines through insurance plans. In general, insurance schemes cover no more than 8% of the African dense population. Moreover, they do not include any drug prescriptions, so people have to spend their own money.

People’s Response

Facing difficulties with accessing medications, the African residents resort to using herbal remedies, rituals, including sacrificing, and other means of traditional medicine. However, it mostly causes harm to their health, and they die. Therefore, they feel frustrated and helpless about the government that does not assist them in health issues. On the other hand, the residents’ feelings are mixed as there is uncertainty about the subject. Some can afford them, and some cannot; thus, there is a dilemma: to struggle or to not. The poor literacy of locals also conditions the struggle.

Comparison to the other Countries

In comparison to other countries such as the United Kingdom or the United States, African states concede to them. These two leading countries have a stable, well-functioning healthcare system. These governments provide their residents with insurance that covers pretty much every medical service. When it comes to producing and supplying medications, they create the best quality drugs and supply them to other countries.

Communication Channels

All of the issues are communicated through a variety of communication channels. The primary source of information is the government that reports every point of this very issue. The next channel would be the mass media that report health situations daily with the most important statistics and facts. Even though these communication channels work, the information that is transmitted to the key communicators such as government is insufficient.

Key Players in the Construction and Communication of This Issue

At the moment, the main stakeholder of communicating the issue should be the government and its institutions. However, it is reluctant to take serious measures. Here are the reasons:

“Lack of government incentives to promote the local manufacture of medicines” (Ekeigwe, 2019, p. 3). The statement implies that for the medicine to be produced on Africa’s territory, its government should supply free land. It means that an open area is needed “for setting up manufacturing, funding of research and development, establishment of technology incubation centers for pharmaceutical manufacturing, tax holidays and/or rebates, giving of cheap loans to manufacturers” (Ekeigwe, 2019, p. 3).
Africa invests very little in research and development. Health researches are rarely conducted and are very few, and their outcomes are not significant. Moreover, studies and other stakeholders do not implement them adequately.
“Inadequate implementation of existing policies and blasé regulatory enforcement” (Ekeigwe, 2019, p. 4). Adequate health facilities are non-existent in rural areas, and when the indigenous population resort to these hospitals they receive inequitable services
“Low health care financing by the governments. National Insurance schemes have shallow coverage and are inaccessible to the majority” (Ekeigwe, 2019, p. 4).

Maintaining the Issue

To ensure the safety of a medicine in Africa, many tasks should be done simultaneously. According to the source, “all stakeholders (the government, the regulatory systems, the manufacturers, distributors, health care providers, the global community and the patients)” must ensure they do everything possible to make it happen (Ekeigwe, 2019, p. 13). “International development partners as part of the global community understand the significance of their roles – because diseases cross borders easily and put the whole world at risk” (Ekeigwe, 2019, p. 13). As a result, underdeveloped countries should attract industrial ones to assist them in these health modernization issues. The same should the developed countries pay attention to the third world ones to ensure their stable development.

The implementation of the African government’s promises and commitments is essential to ensure access to safe, high-quality, and efficient medicines. Many pledges and promises were made to improve the health of African citizens but are still not utilized. They must demonstrate in practice that health is a fundamental human right, and in the age of knowledge, it has become a major strategic factor in production. “Thus, they must review and update national drug policies, carefully select essential medicines per who EML, adequately Fund health research, especially in the public and private sectors, ensure effective drug distribution systems, and implement tax policies that give tax advantages to investors in the health sector” (Ekeigwe, 2019, p. 14). Governments must ensure the proper use of needed medicines to reduce excessive consumption. Since some diseases are mostly “local”, governments should encourage research into neglected tropical diseases (these diseases mainly affect West Africans and may prove economically unprofitable for Western companies investing in development (Ekeigwe, 2019). The government’s role in infrastructure development is essential because of the large number of funds raised and its long-term nature. This will enhance production if governments provide the necessary infrastructure, such as proper roads, modern parks, and other elements needed for the provision. As a result, African countries need to take care of their healthcare system to establish a proper medication system.

References

Singh, D. A. K., Earnest, J., & Lample, M. (2015). Modernization and development: Impact on health care decision-making in Uganda. Health Care for Women International, 36(6), 637–654.

Pheage, T. (n. d.) Dying from lack of medicine. Africa Renewal. Web.

Ekeigwe, A. (2019). Drug manufacturing and access to medicines: The West African story. A literature review of challenges and proposed remediation. AAPS Open, 5, 1-15.

Charlton, B., & Andras, P. (2003). The modernization imperative. Exeter.

Atabong, A. (2019). African healthcare systems are in arms race with a risingfake medicine problem. Quartz Africa. Web.

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