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OUR PEOPLE, OUR MISSION Decolonization of Global Health Global Health eMagazine November 2022 Editor: Matsiko Joshua Written by Joshua Matsiko Medical Student at MakCHS Matsikojoshua091@gmail.com Highlights Spotlight Karamoja Famine: Karamoja Crisis, A World Model to End World Hunger Reflections Global Local UNG77 Among the Letters Nursing Division Decolonization Art to Remind Us of Who We Can Be Our Beautiful Planet Ebola in Uganfda Article of the Month Video of the Month Congratulations Global Health Family Photo News Photo Gallery Resources I woke up to saddening news on a fateful morning of a young toddler who was found suckling her dead mother in the Karamoja subregion in Uganda who had died a while ago due to starvation. Karamoja has had one its worst famine crises this year that has already claimed more than 1000 lives, with some districts like Kotido having over 626 and Kabong with 260 confirmed deaths. According to UNICEF statistics, 80% of the households in Karamoja are either critically food insecure or simply food insecure while approximately 24% of children are either moderately or severely malnourished. Karamoja is a remote region in northeastern Uganda with a population of over 1.2 million people with seven districts including Kabong, Abim, Moroto, Napak, Nakapiripirit and Amudat. For decades the region has been regarded as a backward and troublesome area. Many blame the famine on insecurity, an inhospitable environment, and natural causes like climate change and soil erosion, which are largely true. On deeper investigation, the problem is rooted more anciently than presently. The roots of the present famine lie in the intense colonial exploitation of the people of Karamoja, an exploitation that systematically destroyed not only the pastoral way of life but also hampered the transition to an agricultural mode of existence. In the 1920s, Karamoja was initially divided into three natural zones, as per the differing climatic conditions: grass and tree steppe in the dry zones, lush grass savannah in the moist areas and forests in the uplands, and larger mountains. Despite the large number of game animals there was no overgrazing or deterioration of cover as the animals mostly lived by extensive browsing of the shrubs and trees. On the contrary, these animals contributed to the stability of the environment by ensuring occurrence of the grass, hence there was stable plant cover and erosion was negligible. The Karamojong then had a system of regulations that ensured continued productivity of their grazing areas and the type of grazing practiced was a pastoral version/and burn/agriculture. In the central part which was more fertile and moist, farming and nomadic grazing were practiced by the Mayattas while in the eastern and western drier parts, grass was burned annually at the end of every dry season which controlled growth 18 Decolonization continued on next page >>
OUR PEOPLE, OUR MISSION Global Health eMagazine November 2022 Highlights Spotlight Reflections Global Local UNG77 Among the Letters Nursing Division Decolonization Art to Remind Us of Who We Can Be Our Beautiful Planet Ebola in Uganfda Article of the Month Video of the Month Congratulations Global Health Family Photo News Photo Gallery Resources of shrubs, assisted growth of tree and savannah, and limited growth of harmful organisms like harvester ants and termites. Later in the late 1920s, there was forceful acquisition of land from the Karamojong of over 2000 square miles which mostly constituted the Chemerongit Hills to the Kamyangareng River, which made up most of the central fertile and moist area. This pushed all the central grazers to the eastern and western dryer parts resulting in congestion and overgrazing of these areas and ultimately, uncontrolled soil erosion. Additionally, the annual bush burning was halted, resulting in accumulation of harmful organisms like harvester ants that shifted the crop cover from perennial to annual grasses as well as loss of savannah resulting in more shrubs. Consequent forceful land acquisition forming the crown land and colonial boundaries further pushed the Karamojong to cut down the mountain forest cover in search of grazing land, thereby worsening soil erosion and tending to a more drought climate. When the colonial rulers then recognized the issue of overgrazing, they tried to solve this problem superficially (just as we are trying to solve famine today), by destocking cattle herds of the Karamojong through purchasing them at government-set prices. This continued for years until the 1960s, leading to further food shortage for the Karamojong. This is not to open up old wounds of colonial error, but to frame a deeply-rooted solution using Karamojong as a model to see that world famine may be effectively overcome with achievable policies. When we look at the most famine-hit countries, greater than 50% produce food that can feed more than their population. For example, Uganda produces enough food to feed 400 million people but has a population of less than 50 million. At the same time, 40% of the pastoral population lives in food insecurity. This year, the country has lost thousands due to famine. I believe that as we solve the problem superficially by providing rescue food year-in and year-out, we should more deeply investigate the true cause of famine as per region and try to solve this problem from the roots rather than continually blaming superficial problems of insecurity, climate, infertile soils, and the like. Countries like Israel that are largely desert are becoming world food baskets while populations in the most fertile parts of the world like tropical Africa are dying of hunger. As for Karamoja, annual hunger crises have become commonplace. Despite the sending of rescue food, we still lose people to famine because of the continued superficial solutions. Having studied the Karamoja famine to its roots, we have started brainstorming ways of transforming Karamoja back into a food basket despite climatic challenges by utilizing the latest farming models to ensure continual food production year-in and year-out. Raising more tolerant cattle breeds and grazing methods may ensure more gain per cattle and restoration of old fertile grazing lands. Lastly, afforestation and reafforestation in reserved lands is important for helping solve climate issues. I believe world hunger is one area that can be solved in less than ten years if appropriate models and facilitations are used and available. 19
Page 1 and 2: November 2022 Volume 47 OUR PEOPLE,
Page 3 and 4: OUR PEOPLE, OUR MISSION Highlights
Page 5 and 6: OUR PEOPLE, OUR MISSION Global Heal
Page 17: OUR PEOPLE, OUR MISSION Global Heal
Page 23 and 24: OUR PEOPLE, OUR MISSION For Woman,
Page 29 and 30: OUR PEOPLE, OUR MISSION US News Uga
Page 33 and 34: OUR PEOPLE, OUR MISSION Congratulat

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