Sub-Saharan Africa Dams
Sub-Saharan dams are now becoming hazardous for it's community. According to author Josh L Davis from iflscience.com, he stated how "There are currently 1,268 dams already in place in sub-Saharan Africa, spread right across the region – from the Gambia in the West to Sudan in the East. Out of these, the researchers calculated that just under two-thirds are located in malarious areas"(Davis).A new study recently showed that dams can increase the risk of contracting Malaria. According to author Jacopo Prisco from CNN.com, he stated how this research…" looked at infection rates among people living close to 1,268 dam reservoirs, and found that about 15 million people reside in "risk areas" -- fewer than 5 kilometers away from a dam"(Prisco). As we all know malaria is known to be transmitted from Anopheles mosquito's. Yet what we don't know is that these types of mosquito's breed in slow-moving waters or in stagnant waters, which means that they can easily be found in dams.
Also author Prisco stated how "While the number of infections attributed to dams in the study is a small fraction of the estimated annual 174 million cases in sub-Saharan Africa, the researches believe that is "unethical" that people living close to dams pay the price of that development through increased suffering and, in extreme cases, loss of life"(Jacopo Prisco). Yet over half a million people are dying of malaria each year, with 90% of deaths occurring in sub-Saharan region.
Dams are known to be great investments, especially within Africa, they are known to be great economic growths for them. They are intended to be used as a goal to increase water security and also the supply of cheap electricity. Yet their production rate has not been great. These dams have actually been known to lack in compensation in displaced communities and have a negative environmental impact and also tend to have a "lopsided distribution of the energy in favor of large operations rather than local communities"(Prisco).
Currently, their are 78 dams that are being planned or under construction, which means that would most likely create 56,000 additional cases of malaria annually which is not great. It's unfortunate how within sub-Saharan Africa, they don't care about people's health, especially those who live near dams.
By building more dams, this is only going to increase the chances of those who live near them to be contaminated by malaria because of the water which attracts Anopheles mosquito's. According to author Josh L Davis, he also stated how "The researchers say that while the number of those infected is a tiny proportion of the 207 million cases reported globally, they shouldn’t be the ones who have to suffer the consequences of these new developments". I agree with this as well. Every one's health is important, and those who are planning to build these dams, don't take that into consideration. They should have more sympathy and care for those who live near dams.
1st article link:http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/11/africa/africa-malaria-dams/index.html
YouTube video on Malaria in Sub-Saharan Africa:
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