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Mozambique: Fiscal Downfall and Reformations
Mozambique needs 2,800,900 US dollars to stop the current cholera outbreak but because of its struggling economy and corrupt government it can only pay 17.5% of what it requires ("Mozambique"). Mozambique’s scanty funds are a direct effect of the recent wars and their dependence on countries such as Portugal and South Africa. Mozambique’s GDP is $17.64 billion which is 3.63% of it’s neighbor South Africa, and its GDP Per Capita income is $800 ("Mozambique"). Since the people of Mozambique have little profit, healthcare (a key to the prevention of cholera) is just a distant dream. Studies show that between the years 2001 and 2003, fiscal donations went down approximately 2 billion US dollars (Habeeb 8-29). My proposed solution would potentially break the financial rut that they are in and save their people.
To eradicate any disease you need a source of income for research and prevention. Mozambique's government spends an annual $731million on healthcare which is not enough for those in dire need of medical assistance (Mozambique). Unfortunately, donations are down (Habeeb 8-29) and because of the amount of civil wars, businesses do not flourish creating the struggling market. To increase funds, I suggest the creation of an international fundraising organization backed by private donations and sponsored by celebrities to raise funds for the promotion of vaccinations and the support of water treatment solutions in Mozambique and other countries in Africa facing cholera outbreaks. The funds would be sent to frontline groups (such as medical institutions and water management entities) in need of money that are equipped to disseminate vaccinations and to develop water treatment strategies of water-borne diseases. This will stimulate the economy without taking money out of Mozambique’s pocket. This resolution could spread to other African countries and might eventually cease Mozambique's economic downfall.
At Mozambique's independence, it was one of the poorest countries in the world. Their government bungled it's few revenues and a brutal civil war only made the situation worse. In 1987 the government commenced on reforms to stabilize the economy and substantial improvements have occured since then ("Mozambique"). But Mozambique still relies on foreign powers for loans, imported goods, and even with their assistance a majority of the population is still below the poverty line ("Mozambique"). Eighty percent of the 16,099,246 Mozambicans work as farmers, although only 5% of the land is able to be farmed ("Mozambique"). But, farmers only flourish during the wet season, forcing the majority of income to come from their natural resources, such as sugarcane, aluminum, and cotton ("Mozambique").If Mozambique's government was willing to implement dramatic changes in their economy their fiscal problems would be rectified and pollution levels along with their citizens well-being would be a tangible notion.
