The violent death rate in Africa is more than double the world average and ”substantially higher” than that of other parts of the world — such as Latin America and Eastern Europe — where violence is also a major public health issue.
This is according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), which said on Monday the violent death rate on the continent was estimated at 60,9 per 100 000 population.
”Africa’s excessively high violent death rate is driven by homicide rates that are twice the global average, and which include the world’s highest rates of homicide for children under five years of age.
”The toll of violent death… also reflects the many war-related deaths, which occur in Africa at a rate six times greater than the global average for this form of violence,” the WHO’s Africa office said in a statement.
The organisation’s regional office has its headquarters in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s capital, Brazzaville.
The WHO said it was ”tremendously impressed” with the vision of African leaders — as seen at the recent African Union (AU) summit in Maputo — to address violence.
”The African Union Resolution endorses in their entirety the nine recommendations of the World Report on Violence and Health.
”Among other issues, these urge member states to implement multi-sectoral national plans of action, to promote primary prevention programmes including investment in social development, and to improve services for victims of violence.”
AU member states had also declared 2005 the ”Africa Year of Prevention of Violence”, during which they had undertaken to increase their efforts to prevent violence and reduce its harmful consequences.
The WHO said its world report suggested violence prevention and development were closely intertwined.
”In news about Africa, war and conflict often take centre stage, but they conceal equally vicious forms of violence such as homicide, rape, the abuse and neglect of children, violence against women and violence against the elderly.”
The United Nations body also noted the AU summit had adopted a resolution encouraging African governments to respond to violence as a priority public health challenge for the continent. – Sapa