Hunger Games: Africa vis a vis America

Post by Todun Afolabi
Hunger is not only the total absence of food, but also insufficient supply of a balanced nutrients needed for a healthy body. Hunger and poverty in Africa are serious issues. To totally eliminate the hunger in Africa is to totally eliminate poverty.

Is it not ironic that Africa deals with hunger and poverty and America deals with obesity and poverty? While the lack of food or rather nutritious food is a big issue in Africa, America suffers from it too. I used to be very supportive of organizations that send hunger relief aids to Africa, am still a little bit supportive (don’t get me wrong), but I am much more supportive of sustainable hunger relief efforts. Sustainable hunger relief efforts ranging from education to implementation of small business initiatives, supply of farming tools to poverty alleviation efforts.  It is a lot of work, but I know it can be done.

Growing up in Africa and living in America, I find it unbelievable that, to eat a good and healthy meal in America is expensive! The unhealthy food is cheaper than the healthy food! I have seen both sides.  I come from a nation where hunger is such a huge deal, and I am presently living in a nation where healthy eating is expensive. So where is the balance? Well, I will say it is better to have than not to have at all, but at the same time too much of everything is bad. To me, both nations are hungry, while my “growing up” nation suffers for “lack”, my “living in” nation suffers for “excess”.