‘Infectious diseases have a greater impact on economic development than non-
communicable diseases’. To what extent do you agree with this view?
Plan:
Infectious
Malaria effects:
Less education
Less productivity
Reduction in economic development
Non-communicable
Obesity effects:
Less activity
Answer:
I mostly agree with this statement as Infectious diseases halt education and reduce
productivity resulting in less income and education whereas non-communicable diseases
are usually a result of a lack of income and dietary education.
One example of an infectious disease is Malaria. Malaria is prominent in Uganda due to the
fact that Uganda is located near 3 large water bodies: Lake Victoria, Albert, and Kyoga.
Malaria is a vector borne disease that is passed through mosquitos. Mosquitos are suited to
humid, warm temperatures and breed in large bodies of water, this makes Uganda
vulnerable to mosquitos as they are able to breed easily. 3.4 million people die from Malaria
each year, Uganda’s population is one of the largest contributors to this and as a result has
been negatively impacted economically. Malaria causes children to miss out on education as
they are too ill to come to school and often have to be sent to hospital, additionally adults
who suffer from malaria are unable to work. These two factors combined has led to large
amounts of unemployment and low productivity. This lack of productivity has also resulted
in a low GDI, the GDI of Uganda is $678 per year. In recent years, mitigation methods have
been used to prevent the spread of malaria such as mosquito nets and irrigation and
drainage improvements to prevent mosquito breeding in water bodies. This has been
successful however, due to climate change it is predicted that areas that did not suffer from
malaria due to their cool climate will now begin to experience infections due to rising
temperatures.
Non-communicable diseases however, such as Obesity have a less negative economic
impact as they are usually a product of a lack of financial stability and environmental
factors. Obesity in particular is a disease of affluence and is prominent in Samoa where
many people suffer from poverty. In Samoa 93% of adults and 35% of Samoan youth are
obese, this has occurred as a result of Western influence where processed, fast foods and
imported goods from America and New Zealand are more socially accepted and show a
higher level of class. As a result of this Samoa has become a product of offloading from HIC
countries such as New Zealand, who offloads goods and food that they cannot sell within
their own country due to legislations. For example, New Zealand Mutton shanks are
extremely fatty and illegal to sell in most HICs in the West, however due to the fact that they
are imported from New Zealand, in Samoa they are viewed as a luxury and have become a
common dish in Samoa even though they are more expensive than local produce.
communicable diseases’. To what extent do you agree with this view?
Plan:
Infectious
Malaria effects:
Less education
Less productivity
Reduction in economic development
Non-communicable
Obesity effects:
Less activity
Answer:
I mostly agree with this statement as Infectious diseases halt education and reduce
productivity resulting in less income and education whereas non-communicable diseases
are usually a result of a lack of income and dietary education.
One example of an infectious disease is Malaria. Malaria is prominent in Uganda due to the
fact that Uganda is located near 3 large water bodies: Lake Victoria, Albert, and Kyoga.
Malaria is a vector borne disease that is passed through mosquitos. Mosquitos are suited to
humid, warm temperatures and breed in large bodies of water, this makes Uganda
vulnerable to mosquitos as they are able to breed easily. 3.4 million people die from Malaria
each year, Uganda’s population is one of the largest contributors to this and as a result has
been negatively impacted economically. Malaria causes children to miss out on education as
they are too ill to come to school and often have to be sent to hospital, additionally adults
who suffer from malaria are unable to work. These two factors combined has led to large
amounts of unemployment and low productivity. This lack of productivity has also resulted
in a low GDI, the GDI of Uganda is $678 per year. In recent years, mitigation methods have
been used to prevent the spread of malaria such as mosquito nets and irrigation and
drainage improvements to prevent mosquito breeding in water bodies. This has been
successful however, due to climate change it is predicted that areas that did not suffer from
malaria due to their cool climate will now begin to experience infections due to rising
temperatures.
Non-communicable diseases however, such as Obesity have a less negative economic
impact as they are usually a product of a lack of financial stability and environmental
factors. Obesity in particular is a disease of affluence and is prominent in Samoa where
many people suffer from poverty. In Samoa 93% of adults and 35% of Samoan youth are
obese, this has occurred as a result of Western influence where processed, fast foods and
imported goods from America and New Zealand are more socially accepted and show a
higher level of class. As a result of this Samoa has become a product of offloading from HIC
countries such as New Zealand, who offloads goods and food that they cannot sell within
their own country due to legislations. For example, New Zealand Mutton shanks are
extremely fatty and illegal to sell in most HICs in the West, however due to the fact that they
are imported from New Zealand, in Samoa they are viewed as a luxury and have become a
common dish in Samoa even though they are more expensive than local produce.
