Africa's Obesity Epidemic

     When one imagines the African continent, one would most likely come to the conclusion that Africa is a continent ridden with famine-induced starvation and depleting resources, prompting a need for more developed countries to provide aid to the continent. However, a  new study has found that Africans, mostly in South Africa, are now fighting a battle that no one expected them to - obesity. According to Shane Norris, head of the new African Centre for Obesity Prevention, "In terms of Africa, obesity is a growing problem. Some countries are really experiencing high levels. Some countries are already experiencing quite high levels of obesity, others aren’t. [But] the trend is that more and more African countries, as they economically develop, will face obesity-related challenges. We can’t stop economic growth and we wouldn’t want to, but how can we put other things in place to counter the potential ill-health effects of the economic development?" Overall, it seems that the economic development that Africa is now experiencing has produced increasing levels of obesity as an unintended side effect. Some reasons for this include the switch from traditional, nutrient-rich foods such as maize meal and vegetables to high-calorie fast foods such as fried chicken and chips. In addition, an increase in obesity could also be credited to culture, in which weight gain is viewed as a sign of affluence or happiness. Conversely, weight loss can be attributed to something going wrong in that person's life, such as possible depression, loss of job, or an illness. Therefore, this becomes an issue of not only tackling the obesity problem through diet, but through changing the cultural mindset as well. However, while this is an issue, obesity isn't considered a health priority for those affected as attention is focused more on preventing and treating infectious diseases such as HIV, AIDS, and tuberculosis.

Source(s): http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/nov/17/africa-faces-up-to-obesity-epidemic

Six Ethopoians Killed in South Africa

Six Ethiopians were killed in South Africa according to witnesses in Durban, South Africa, in what is allegedly xenophobic attacks. Yonas Fikru, an Ethiopian businessman in Durban says that he knew all six victims and they were attacked and killed at separate times, usually in broad daylight. Another member of the Ethiopian community in South Africa, Tegegne Aboye, states that locals have been trying in vain to report the incidents to the authorities, who fail to do anything about the situation. He says, "The killer vigilante mobs are thinking that it is their right to do what they are doing. Even when they are caught or when someone points out criminals, we see them released shortly. Some of them steal and we see them coming out the next day and committing more crime." Even the Ethiopian embassy has not provided help, according to Aboye. These attacks are not the only ones. Violent xenophobic attacks against foreigners have been increasing in prevalence over the past few years, which could be attributed to anger that poor South Africans have over the foreigners taking over their jobs.

Source(s): http://www.voanews.com/content/six-ethiopians-killed-in-south-africa/3044175.html

Sub-Saharan Africa's First Metro Railway

Citizens of Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, now have the option to avoid the congested streets of the city with the opening of the new metro, which is the first of its kind in Sub-Saharan Africa. Ato Workeneh Gebeyehu, the country's Minister of Transport, says that more than 60,000 people use the metro each day, and they only have to pay 30 cents for each journey, making it affordable for workers with low-income. Getachew Betru, the CEO of the Ethiopian Railways Corporation, says that the reason for the metro is not for financial benefit and gain; rather, it is to provide a service to the city to further enable its growth. In addition, while many would think that the metro would end up being a competitor against the "taxi" system, which serves more like a minibus service,  Betru argues that the metro would actually be beneficial as it would be a cheaper way to cover larger distances and even link up travelers with minibuses at metro stations.

Source(s): http://www.cnn.com/2015/11/02/africa/addis-ababa-metro-system/index.html