The death rate is 21.3 per 1,000 people. The average life expectancy is 40.85 years.
If the lack of resources, effective management, and the need of health services continues, many more deaths would occur.
They need development because they have not got, or been given the finance or skills to enable them to become self-sufficient. The aim of development should not be to turn each country into a replica of what we have in the west, but simply to enable them to survive without resorting to loans from the International Banks.
Many third world countries are in so much debt that they cannot fund this development themselves.
It is worth remembering that the majority of these countries were, as some state in their past, governed by what we now call developed countries - especially Britain and France. They "raped" these countries, used their natural resources and then "dumped" them to survive for themselves.
The Second World:
These are countries which are becoming wealthier like China. This is a table showing some facts and figures of education in China.
The total number of hospitals and clinics in china are 320,000, the total number of doctors: 1.39 million and the total number of nurses and technicians: 1.05 million.
The Communist government is now encouraging the growth of manufacturing, particularly of buyer goods for export. The nation's employees are generally low paid, allowing China to offer very competitive prices in the world market. Chinese clothing, shoes, canned food, and electronics are flooding the global marketplace. The life expectancy in China is 68.5 years. Most diseases are preventable and curable but AIDS is one of the major diseases in China.
The First World:
The first world includes developed countries like the USA, UK, Germany, Japan, etc.
Education in these countries are the very best since most schools have enough money provided by the government to buy all the necessary work books, PC’s, PE facilities, and so on. Healthcare in these countries are remarkably good because they have all the medicines and equipment to treat patients. Technology is extremely developed in these countries. For example, America has exceptional transport services from busses to underground trains. Most Diseases are easily treated by medicines or by injections. The average life expectancy in the United Kingdom is 76.2 years.
Q a (ii)
Christian Teachings on wealth and poverty:
Christians believe that wealth is something which can be used for good or evil. Christians also believe that when they have wealth, it’s a gift from God, not just theirs alone.
Here is a quote from the bible telling that if you have the wrong attitude to possession of money, wealth can keep your mind off God:
‘True happiness is not found in riches or well-being, in human fame or power, or in any human achievement.’
So Christians believe that they must give money to the poor:
‘God blesses those who come to the aid of the poor and rebukes those who turn away from them… Love for the poor is incompatible with immoderate use of riches or their selfish use.’
The apostle Paul tells us: "For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich" (2 Cor 8:9). Then he explains that we should care for the poor: "I do not mean that there should be relief for others and
pressure on you, but it is a question of a fair balance between your present abundance and their need, so that their abundance may be for your need, in order that there may be a fair balance" (2 Cor 8:13-14)
Another quote from the bible:
‘No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.
This short but powerful quote says that you cannot worship both money and God. You must love one and hate the other.
Q a (iii)
Christian Aid:
Christian Aid began in 1945 as the British Ecumenical Refugee Council. It was set-up in 1944 to help over a 100,000 of homeless Europeans in the result of World War II. Since its inception Christian Aid has worked on long term development projects where the need is greatest, working with people and communities regardless of race or belief. Today it works in over 60 of the world's poorest countries, providing emergency aid, education, Long-term aid, Fund-raising. Christian Aid's important belief is summed up in the statement ‘we believe in life before death' which is now part of the Christian Aid logo.
Christian Aid provides the resources to enable developing countries or areas of countries to become self-sufficient. They do this in order to follow the teachings of Jesus "love your neighbour as you would love yourself" and also the section from the parable of the sheep and the goats where Jesus admits to heaven those who have helped the strangers.
The Christian aid helps poor people in four ways:
Education - An estimated 5% of the Christian Aid’s budget is spent on educating people and the Churches of Britain.
Fund-raising - the Christian Aid raises money in May each year by organising a nationwide event.
- many churches and individuals collect money throughout the year.
Emergency aid - has a disaster fund which helps to deal with refugees and natural disasters.
- sends food, antibiotics, shelters, and blankets to the refugees.
Long-term aid - In Bangladesh, the Christian Aid is funding a group of Christian health workers who have built a factory to make basic drugs which Bangladesh cannot afford to import.
Q b
My View:
I disagree in the view that ‘there should be no rich as long as there is poverty in the world’. This is because I believe that people should be rich but they should also donate a portion of their money to the poor every year. This way the poor people would be able to use the money on education, to plant crops (grow as food), healthcare, clothes and other things which may be necessary.
Muslims believe that you have to give Zakah (purification – sharing your wealth) to purify the money you have left so that no harm comes to you from it. There is a hadith (sayings of the prophet – Muhammad) which says, ‘protect your property by giving Zakah and help your relatives to recover from disease by giving charity’. Allah is the source of all wealth, therefore by helping and giving charity, one in return repays their fortune. In a way of helping others they show appreciation.
Christians believe that when a person has wealth, it is a gift from God.
Luke 14:12-21 brings home the significance of such a practical approach to the poor in this passage.
"When you hold a lunch or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or your wealthy neighbours, in case they may invite you back and you have repayment. Rather, when you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
I entirely agree with this passage because by inviting friends or wealthy neighbours is mainly for your and their gratification, in addition they have the means to repay you. However, by providing a feast for the disabled or deprived, you seek not the worthy thankfulness but the gratitude of God.
Being wealthy puts a person in a powerful position, to influence and be a good role model to other people i.e. Princess Diana. Their actions can help to provide a better way of life for the people in need. Rather
than showing it to be charity they should enable and provide opportunities for these people to work and earn their living in dignity. For this will give them their self esteem and pride.
