The place of science in a continent at the crossroads

I have mentioned it before and I want to repeat it now, that we in Africa share a common history, heritage and basic problems of development. We, therefore, have an inescapable responsibility of pooling our talents and resources in shaping our common destiny. In fulfillment of its mission, AFHES, through its organized con notgresses and this Journal, is an invaluable vessel for enabling us to promote better health for the peoples of this continent. Africa is a continent endowed with great potential that, for one reason or an notother, has been ignored or misused, resulting in the current crisis now enveloping the continent. There is the escalating debt burden, falling agricultural productivity and the ever-increasing population. Efforts to improve the situation are hampered by adverse factors such as malnutrition, HTV/AIDS, malaria and other causes of ill health; wars, poor environmental management and the ever-worrisome problem of refugees. At the sunrise of the 21st Century, we must wake up and reverse the current trend by focusing our resources on priority areas of development. The fight for freedom from the yoke of colonialism and the traumatic experience of apartheid has been won. In some African countries, however, the winning of the fight for freedom has opened up a new fight, a fight that is more fierce and bloody than that which set us free. These include civil strife and internecine wars giving rise to a new black Diaspora, which is far greater than the one experienced during the period of slavery and slave trade. People supposed to build these nations have either been killed or forced into exile. Those intellectually endowed have sought refuge in safer and economically developed countries and, by the same process, also weaken the al notready weak economies of their mother countries. They have, therefore, helped to strengthen the already strong economies of the developed nations. This is indeed, a sad situation that poses a formidable challenge to the future well being of the conti notnent. Civil strife has resulted in the increased numbers of displaced persons and has caused a big setback in the fight against diseases and causes of ill health. In addition, there are new challenges created by emergence of new infections, re-emergence of diseases that had been put under control; and the changing epidemiological patterns and manifestations of existing diseases. Since disease and ill health know no bound notary, we must all be prepared to find solutions to diseases and causes of ill health that continuously haunt this continent. As health experts, we are concerned. We should not be responding to health emergencies occasioned by civil strife. We need peace as it will guarantee not only freedom and personal security, but it will also guarantee our future and the future of those to come after us. We are well aware that as is the case with developed nations, the development of our continent rests on the utilization of research findings, which must be useful, contextual and must stand the test of time. This is our mission and our hope. Africa is at the crossroads. We must not despair or quit, lest we become irrel notevant both to ourselves and to the rest of mankind. Let African governments give science a chance. As I have said several times before and I am still saying it now, quitters never win and winners never quit. We have no alternative but to be winners!