Well Hello There, I thank you for stumbling across this blog, I hope it will interest you, and if not, I apologise on behalf of me pouring my mind, and newly acquired knowledge into this blog and its lack of interest.
I intend to use this, truthfully, as a way to extend my knowledge of modern day, past and future applications of science, and also to inform myself on current events, and gain knowledge and understanding of the status of the world and those who inhabit it.
Medicine is truly the best application of science into the real world, 500 years ago, in England, the life expectancy was 38-40 years, but that was after surviving poverty, dysentery, starvation and many diseases that are now viewed as rare.
2013. the average life expectancy has ballooned up to 79.48 years in the UK, and at the top of the life expectancy tables is Japan, with 82.73, the contrast between number one and Swaziland, currently residing at the bottom of the list, is 31.77.
After discovering Swaziland, a country I truthfully didn't know existed until tonight, I did some research into the reason behind its shockingly low average life expectancy.
Swaziland is critically affected by AIDS, a pandemic in fact. The 2012 CIA World Factbook mentioned this, just to confirm the extremity of the HIV infection rate - 25.8% of all adults. The World Health Organization data from 2002 shows that 64% of all deaths in the country were caused by HIV/AIDS. In 2009 an estimated 7,000 people died from AIDS-related causes.
In 2004 38.8% of tested pregnant women were infected with HIV. Tuberculosis is also a problem, it has an 18% mortality rate and many people have a multi-drug resistant strain and 83% are co-infected with HIV.
The World Health Organization showed that infant mortality was at 69 per 1,000 in 2005, and 47% of all death under five are caused by HIV/AIDS. Research has also showed that there are 16 physicians per 100,000 people in 2000.
Though these facts and figures are not 2013, or even 2012 they are still recent and they have already had a profound effect on me. Some of the things I learnt tonight really did surprise me, with the technology and advancements we have today in science, to see and learn these facts was something I would never have stumbled upon unless this blog had begun. Every time I read about poverty, or any accident, or an other event that caused or resulted in pain I feel the urge to do something, I feel so powerless.
Being 16 makes me feel so insignificant. I see everything from an adults perspective and have all the power of a 5 year old. But a five I could at least throw a tantrum and it would be socially acceptable (to a point).
This link is for anyone who is reading this... so probably no one, to have a look at the work this charity does for Swaziland, and maybe donate if possible?
Even if I get no readers, I don't mind, (PLEASE DON'T TAKE THAT TO MEAN I DON'T APPRECIATE YOU GLANCING YOUR EYES ACROSS THIS) because this blog is providing me with the ability to develop and widen my knowledge already, literally in the first post.
Thanks for reading, comments are appreciated, and anything you would like me to research or suggested topics for the future would be good.
