Generally described as the Dark Continent, Africa currently trails behind the rest of the world; its part of world trade is insignificant. While many nations are emerging as a force to be reckoned with; our aircrafts are still waiting on the tarmac unable to fulfil conditions for take off. We must overcome the deep seated effects of slavery and colonization, persistent underdevelopment following independence and an intolerable burden of disease. Good health standards are associated with socioeconomic development whilst poverty invariably goes with ignorance and disease. The effects of development on health can be analyzed from two levels, namely, macro and sectoral.

When there is overall socio-economic development in the country, its impact on the health sector would include the following: availability of resources (especially finance) to embark on health development; supplies of modern medical technology; increased access of the population to basic health services as well as housing, sanitation, food supply and nutrition; improvements in the quality of life and the health status of the people; changes in production, the distribution of the proceeds of socio-economic development and consumption patterns; and availability of employment opportunities for individuals which would lead to an increase in economic and social well being and, hence, to sustenance of good health status.

Some of the ways in which health contributes to socio-economic development and, hence could be regarded as ‘a prerequisite for socio-economic development’ are briefly summarized as follows: a reduction in absenteeism and, hence an increase in the number of man hours of labour and learning at school; an increase in the quality as well as productivity of the existing labour force; elimination of disease vectors make feasible the development of previously unsettled regions; changes in the attitudes, habits and behaviour of people and, consequently, promotion of both innovation and entrepreneurship (both ‘qualities’ foster growth creating activities); and mental development i.e. improvement in learning capacity which facilitates human capital development. Because of the linkages between health and development, health development should be considered as an integral part of overall socioeconomic development. In order words, socio-economic development policies should incorporate health policies, and strategies to implement socio-economic policies should also foster the implementation of health policies. Because poor health is delaying socio-economic take off in Africa, there is an urgent need for all Africans to engage in the fight for survival.

The development process requires in addition to healthy people, some other factors to bring about socio-economic development: Africa faces the challenges of developing strong resilient health care systems, well managed and sustained by appropriate training and research institutions.