Malawi
is a small nation in southern Africa with a population of about thirteen million. It is one of the
least developed countries with very low life expectancy. Two thirds
of the population live below the national poverty line and more than one in
five people live in ultra poverty – unable to afford basic minimum food
requirements.
Population growth, fertility, maternal and
child mortality rates are among the highest in Africa and forty six per cent
of children under the age of five are chronically malnourished.
Families and communities are grappling with HIV and AIDS, malaria and other
diseases, dependant upon increasingly unpredictable rains to support
subsistence farming on severely
depleted soils in a deteriorating
natural environment. Eighty five per
cent of the population lives in rural areas on landholdings of diminishing
size.
The devastation of
AIDS has not kept its hand off
Malawi just like other African countries.
It is projected that by the year 2010 there will be over one million orphans
in Malawi,
Africa alone.
With over 42 million orphans predicted by 2010, Africa will be nearing
Asia's 65 million orphaned children. Fortunately,
governments are starting to work with local churches, non-profit
organizations and communities to educate thousands of people about AIDS.
Programs like
Ministry of Hope help care for
the needs of orphans by providing food, spiritual guidance and education
assistance. By helping to ensure education to these children they are
aiding in the future growth and advancement of Malawi.
In many
parts of Africa the AIDS infection rate has been dropping.
Currently, the AIDS infection ratein Malawi
is 14%.
Take the
AIDS Test at World Vision's website to learn more about AIDS.
Information
obtained from
CIA world fact book, Ministry of
Hope, United Nations Malawi and
World Vision
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