What if we moved Iraq to Africa?

Great Debates
41

Right there. To those who ask why pump more money into initiatives that have previously failed, my counter question is why not put more money into initiatives that have succeeded?

What has worked so far in Africa (or for similar problems, elsewhere)?

Sure there have been some negative lessons learned: “don’t give money to tyrants”. What are the positive lessons, though?

42

With $100 billion I would start doing basic medical treatment. That would help a lot of people. I don’t know if the following is my priorities, but they do illustrate how much you can get for that sum of money.

I think I would consider the following:

  • Mosquito nets costs $5 a pop. Buy 10 million. Cost: $50 million.
  • Polio/measles/meningitis vaccine costs $1. Buy 10 million. Cost: $10 million.
  • Infection-fighting antibiotics for children $2,5. Buy 10 million. Cost: $25 million.
  • Cure one child for malaria costs $1. Cure 10 million. Cost: $10 million.
  • Medical kit for one patient for three months costs 33 cents. 10 million. $3.3 million.
  • HIV treatment one person one year costs $255. 10 million. Cost: $2550 million.

Then I’ve spent $2,648 billion or 2,6% of the total sum of money. Then I’d start building roads and schools. Maybe some wells. Probably even set up a fund like Grameen Bank which could lend money to poor people, so they could start their own business. Then send soldiers to Darfur, prop up the UN force in Congo and give money and advisors to the AU (African Union) so they can send a well equipped force to Somalia.

(The sums I used came mostly from MSF (US site & norwegian site)