26 Spectrum February 2011

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The theme song by the singer Shakira for the World Cup played recently in South Africa Waka Waka this time for

Africa has a ring of optimism and national pride, as people see something positive and exciting happening in their own country. This reflects a wave of public feeling emerging on the African continent today. It is time for something good to happen in Africa.

We certainly don’t get much good news from that continent do we? In fact there is so much bad news that people are no longer shocked and compassion dries up. The misfortunes of the continent are perhaps too well known.

Realistically, is progress achievable? In sub-Saharan Africa, poor health and lack of education deprive people of productive employment, environmental resources have been depleted or spoiled, and corruption, conflict and poor government waste precious public funds. Very few people have money at all. They build their own homes, often out of mud and sticks. They grow their own food. When the rains fail, they go hungry. And when the rains are too heavy, they lose their homes.

I don’t imagine that I can change any of this, but I do believe that it can change. I believe it is possible, and increasingly, African people themselves believe that it is possible. They have the most amazing resilience in the face of great obstacles, and more and more they are beginning to believe that they themselves can bring about these changes. As Bono, the Irish rock star put it, “Africans don’t want to spend the rest of their lives on the nipple of aid.”

Africa has lots of fertile land and cheap labour, and abundant natural resources.

Robert Guest says, “In the long run, I believe that Africa will prosper. Any country can make the transition from poverty to comfort. We know this because it has been done before in countries like Italy and Japan.”

African nations do not have to re-invent the wheel. They are now able to benefit from

This time for Africa

JOHN MORSHEAD SAYS THAT THE WAY FORWARD FOR AFRICA IS THROUGH EDUCATION

the advances made by modern science, and they can virtually leapfrog from the pre-industrial stage to the modern information age. The technology required to make progress already exists, and much of it is free. But so far Africa has been slow to train the necessary engineers and technicians to take advantage of it.

The former British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown recently called for a “wired” Africa which could become a source of global growth. Brown told African leaders that with more “smart aid”, less corruption, and investment in IT, the world’s poorest continent has the ability to be a new growth engine. He believes that the internet could revolutionise Africa’s economy. It could transform how Africa trades, learns, and holds political power accountable.

Gordon Brown said: “Africa’s best hope for diversification into the high value sectors is a massive acceleration in the use of IT… 40%

of people in Africa have mobile phones, but only 10% have access to the internet, which offers the chance of a technological leap in the provision of services and for business and citizens.”

Brown, among others, is calling for a new philosophy of development, in which aid promised by the west would be delivered, but with the ultimate objective of making aid redundant. Aid should not be seen as an investment in people’s dependency, but in their dignity. It is time to focus not just on poverty, but on wealth; time to kick start business led growth. Not just on providing services for the poor, but on an investment climate for those who bring wealth. Not simply to support Africa’s public sector, but to unleash its private sector.

In conclusion, Brown added: “the world needs Africa. Some time ago we moved beyond the idea of charity, and said Africa’s development was not about charity but about

International

Spectrum February 2011 27

justice. But the imperative is stronger still: it is both about justice, and our shared prosperity.

Education is the keyPeople need the appropriate education to be able to exploit the opportunities before them. Where we live in Tanzania, there is a great hunger for education and young people are convinced that this is the way forward for them personally, and the nation as a whole… and they are optimistic.

This time for AfricaMy wife Jill and I teach at Muhimbili National University Hospital in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. We teach in the Diploma of Diagnostic Radiography course offered by MUHAS (Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences). Of the population of this country, 50% are under the age of 20. New universities are opening all over the country in response to the demand from the young. Radiographers, radiography teachers and students alike are eager to press for a degree level course. A scarcity of teachers hinders progress.

I only know of two radiographers in Tanzania at Bachelor degree levels, and none with a Masters degree level. The radiographers with bachelor degrees have not been attracted into full time teaching because of the poor pay and working conditions of teachers. They obtained their degrees by funding themselves to study in South Africa, and now look for a return on that investment. An increasing number of Tanzanians have been going overseas to acquire technical and university education. This is expensive, and most of these students face great difficulties like insufficient finance, new languages, adjusting to another culture and racial segregation in their host countries. Furthermore, their eyes are opened to the affluence of their host countries, making it difficult to face returning to the harsh realities of life in a third world country.

In a country where one woman dies every hour from complications related to pregnancy or childbirth, ultrasound services are greatly needed. Diagnosis of many other endemic diseases can also be achieved by properly trained operators. However, only a handful of radiographers have any formal training in this modality and there is no structured course available in Tanzania at this time. While there is widespread support for a training program, the primary barrier

is finding people able and qualified to teach. As the most disempowered segment of

Tanzanian society, women are also in urgent need of services to provide diagnosis for breast cancer. Only one or two locations presently provide services for mammography or breast ultrasound, and then only for the relatively wealthy. Most breast cancer is diagnosed in its advanced stages, and even then, treatment options, apart from surgery, are non-existent. Radiotherapy is only available in one of the national hospitals and chemotherapy is still not available.

Training of radiographers, in the very exacting science of mammography is desperately needed.

Where will teachers come from? The numbers of teachers required for a radiography degree course as well as teachers for specialised courses such as ultrasound and mammography, makes outside assistance unavoidable. That assistance might be directed in a number of ways.u Educating indigenous people to degree

status or higher through the provision of scholarships or sponsorships.

u Providing volunteer teachers to help establish new degree courses.

u Providing experts in particular fields to share their knowledge and skills for short periods, such as seminars and workshops. Alternatively, sponsoring indigenous radiographers to seek training in specific specialised areas.

u Providing technical assistance and equipment to facilitate teaching new degree

courses, or specialised short courses. u Educational exchange programs for

teachers and students.

Where can we begin?One of the foundation principles of the Church Missionary Society, who support my wife and I is “begin in a small way”. If we bite off more than we can chew, we are prone to fail. However, if we proceed with modest achievable goals, we can then build on that foundation. The AIR has already expressed its preparedness to participate in a partnership designed to address some of these needs. The ISRRT may also be willing to contribute to this effort.

As more of the baby boomer generation enter retirement, we will see a vast reservoir of underutilised skill and knowledge. These people have the education and experience to make a huge difference in the developing world. Ageing does not have to mean decay and stagnation; it can mean growth; it can lead to an exciting new and productive stage of life. Free of the responsibilities of dependent children and financially secure, these people can put their years of experience to good use to help others in need.

Now a new and rapid rhythm is beating from the drums of science and technology; modern communications and mass media; schools and universities; cities and towns. Nothing can halt this rhythm or slow down its rapid tempo. The people of Africa must get up and dance, for better or for worse, on the world stage. If we share from our abundance we can help them to succeed. s