The Health of the People: The African Regional Health Report Book

***This book is a winner of the British Medical Association's 2007 annual Medical Book Competition. Highly commended in the Public Health category***

The Health of the People: the African Regional Health Report is the first report to focus on the health of the 738 million people living in the African Region of the World Health Organization. This fully-illustrated 196-page report provides expert analysis of all the key areas of public health in Africa. It also contains the most comprehensive annex of health statistics on the region to date.

With the help of the latest data presented in figures, graphs and tables, the report looks at infectious diseases, in particular HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria; pregnancy-related conditions that kill mothers and babies; and environmental causes of ill-health including pollution and armed conflict. It also looks at health problems that are associated with developed countries, such as diabetes and hypertension, and other noncommunicable conditions, such as mental illness and injuries.

But this report does not merely recount tales of misery, indeed it sheds fresh light on the treatment, diagnostic and preventive methods that work in Africa. It describes Africa s public health success stories that may serve as models for others in the continent.

Public health in Africa has come under the international spotlight in recent years. The sheer enormity of the disease burden and the often inadequate response has prompted many regional and international initiatives. More funds than ever before have been pledged for health in Africa, yet many problems prevail. This report is vital reading for anyone who wants to understand this situation and what can be done about it.