Leapfrogging Possibilities For Sustainable Consumption and ...

Figure 7: Coverage with improved drinking water sources for different sub-regions
of the world 1990, 2004 and 2015 MDG target. 19
2.3.2 Health and Environmental Challenges
While recognizing the relationship between health challenges and environmental
challenges namely climate change, desertification and biodiversity loss, they are
consciously presented as different subsections with the intention of providing better
resoultion.
2.3.2.1 Health challenges
Health problems such as malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/Aids are the biggest health
challenges faced by many countries in Africa (see Figure 8 for Malaria prevalence). Child
mortality and maternal mortality are still responsible for a significant number of deaths in
Africa. Millions of African children suffer from diseases that can be traced back to
malnutrition. Average life expectancy in Africa is the global lowest.
19 WHO and UNCIEF(2006)
18