Burkina Faso :: History

Burkina Faso Burkina Faso is a small country located in Western Africa, north of Ghana, it's total land area is 274,200 sq km. The terrain is mostly flat to dissected, undulating plains; hills in west and southeast. Some of it's natural resources are manganese, limestone, marbleand small deposits of gold. The irrigated land in Burkina Faso is only a mere 160 sq km. The population is 10,422,828 (July 1995 est.) of which 50% is under the age of 15. Burkina Faso is a country with a rapidly increasing population in relation to the growth of food supply and other human necessities. The countries population is growing rapidly and the country is not able to adequately feed, shelter, and provide the basic human needs. The situation is not improving, it is getting worse with each year. The very near future could be disastrous for the people of Burkina Faso. The possible solutions in overcoming this problem are not plentiful and all have their drawbacks, and moral issues. One option would be to try to increase the death rate, and at the same time lower the birth rate. Another can be to try to raise the environmental limits so that food supply would adequate. Or the other option can be that we do nothing and wait. These are just some options that I think are the most applicable to the case in which Burkina Faso is currently facing. Of all three the most appealing solution to me is number one. That solution might be a little slower then other options but I believe it is the best approach for the country. The first option, to increase death rates and lower the birth rates would be the best choice. This option would be best because of the situation that is in Burkina Faso. The spread of HIV/AIDS has become an important issue in Burkina Faso, where the national statistics estimate that between 4 and 7 percent of the population is seropositive. While these rates are low in comparison to countries of East Africa, they place Burkina Faso second after Cote d'Ivoire among West African countries most affected by the epidemic. Burkina Faso's health problems include a high prevalence of many endemic diseases, poor case management by the health system and a weak infrastructure, with health centres that are geographically or financially inaccessible to most of those they are meant to serve.