Two of the most important components for a good governance are the establishment of an effective education and health care programs that would benefit the majority. Seemingly, there are a lot of factors to be considered on how every nation can improve the overall value of these programs. This paper will provide distinct comparisons of how education and health care programs both Africa and the United States affect its governance and socio-economic status.
Let us first focus on the status of health care for both Africa and the United States. It is a fact that the United States is one of those nations whose health care programs are among the best from around the world. The U.S. is a super-power country above others – that includes better services, more funds for government programs, better facilities and technologies, etc. This power has greatly influenced how other countries try to manage the increase in competitiveness on promoting their health care industry. According to the statistical data presented in the report, there was a general increase in trend for the different rehabilitation and medical services in the country from 1985 to 1999, including those on nursing programs, physical therapy, speech and hearing therapy, nutritional services, etc. (Bernstein et al. 15). Furthermore, recent developments of health care programs in the United States brought about by the Affordable Care Act of President Obama enabled millions of Americans to acquire medical health insurance, medical expansion benefits, expenditures, health care education, etc. which made the trend of the U.S. healthcare industry to bloom (Leonard).
The African health care industry, on the other hand, has been left behind by most developing countries around the world. Indeed, several viruses and diseases that are very common today, such as HIV and AIDS, were often made Africa as its main source or reference. According to the data presented by KPMG Africa, results were linked on the age gap of Africans to be 14 years less than the average age for all citizens around the world, and seemingly 21 years less than the average of all European citizens (4). One of the biggest concerns for the downfall of health care programs in Africa is the lack of financial support of the government. Africa is a very poor country, and “one half of the African continent lives below the poverty line. In sub-Saharan Africa, per capita GDP is now less than it was in 1974, having declined over 11 percent” (Picker). As what was stated on the report, the health care status in the state is a result of insufficient public spending as well as the miscalculation and mismanagement of people’s contributions through government taxes that causes an immediate impact to the poorest members of the state (KPMG Africa 4). Meaning, the government itself is the main concern for the programs’ dormant growth, especially on the widespread corruption within the internal jurisdiction of the government that cuts the overall budget spending on health care benefits and programs for their citizens. Seemingly, while the current African government strives to give importance on the healthcare status of their nation, different medical and health care reforms are being studied so as to improve the general health of the Africans. Some of the needed reform in their health care include: shifting of medical decisions and healthcare deliveries on prevention rather than cure; improved access to medical healthcare through the use of mobile technologies; control and maintenance of medicines and devices for its viability; extension of medical insurance coverage for the poorest African cities, etc. (Economic Intelligence Unit 5). Hence, the challenge now lies on the government’s efforts to mandate these reforms for a better health care unit in all African cities.
The current education sector for Africa and the United States may seem to decrease its gap for its growth and development. In the case of Africa, an estimated 50 percent of its population is minors. According to statistical data, around 33 million children in Sub-Saharan Africa have no educational context, of which 18 million are girls. Only two-thirds of students in primary school finished their studies (Achieve in Africa). However, reforms were also made in the African education. In the data obtained from Africa-America Institute, more students are enrolled in schools and there were also a rise in the number of graduates in the secondary education (14). Still, tremendous efforts and budget allocation are necessary towards a more plausible and convenient educational services throughout the African nation. American education, on the other hand, struggles were also observed on the recent information conducted by various organizations. Resources said that the U.S. provides a lot of money per student, covering an annual worth of $115,000 which makes it more feasible for better education (Ryan). Unluckily, with higher amount of spending of the government, the U.S. education seemed to be at a distress and obtained much lower ranks on different tests results. Seemingly, “the poorest students are often warehoused in the worst schools, ensuring that public education is a poor vehicle for social mobility” (The Economist). Thus, there is still a bit of concern regarding the present educational status all over the state. Nonetheless, this makes it more intriguing since the U.S. provides a lot of money for educational development. Seemingly, the current situation of economic freedom of the U.S. continues to decrease as “ratings for labor freedom, business freedom, and fiscal freedom have flagged notably, and the regulatory burden is increasingly costly” (The Heritage Foundation).
Works Cited
Achieve in Africa. 2009. “Facts on Education in Africa.” Web. 14 April 2016. <https://achieveinafrica.wordpress.com/2009/04/15/facts-on-education-in-africa/>
Africa-America Institute. 2015. “State of Education in Africa Report 2015.” 1-16.
Bernstein, AB; Hing, Ernesto; Moss, Aj Siller, AB; & Ronald B. Tiggle. 2003. “Health Care in America: Trends in Utilization.” 1-135. National Center for Health Statistics, Hyattsville, MA.
Economist Intelligence Unit. 2012. “The Future of Healthcare in Africa.” 1-37. The Economist.
KPMG Africa. 2012. “The State of Healthcare in Africa.” 1-12. KPMG Africa Limited.
Leonard, Kimberly. 2015. “Health Care Index Shows Massive Increase in Consumer Costs.” U.S. News. Web. 14 April 2016. <http://www.usnews.com/news/health-care-index/articles/2015/05/07/us-news-health-care-index-shows-massive-increase-in-consumer-costs>
Picker, Leslie. 2004. “The Economic Decline of Africa.” Web. 14 April 2016. <http://www.nber.org/digest/jan04/w9865.html>
Ryan, Julia. 2013. “American Schools vs. the World: Expensive, Unequal, and Bad at Math.” The Atlantic. Web. 14 April 2016. <http://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2013/12/american-schools-vs-the-world-expensive-unequal-bad-at-math/281983/>
The Economist. 2014. “Education in America: Back Against the Blackboard.” Web. 14 April 2016. <http://www.economist.com/news/books-and-arts/21625653-american-teachers-need-more-money-training-feedback-collaboration-mentoring-and>
The Heritage Foundation. 2016. “2016 Index of Economic Freedom.” Web. 14 April 2016. <http://www.heritage.org/index/country/unitedstates>
