400031 Health and Bioethics in Africa (S) (WiSe 2012/2013)

Health in Africa and the provision of adequate health care and prevention have risen on the global political agenda during recent years. Besides the HIV-AIDS challenge, African societies are struggling with long known poverty-related diseases and conditions. International development cooperation requires a better understanding of the socio-economic conditions and of health beliefs in Africa. In addition, international research (e.g. preventive measures, pharmaceuticals) ought to be more targeted towards the needs in these societies. Global policies in these fields raise specific ethical issues.
Following this background, special topics are drawn to provide key perspectives from the African context and the general context of bioethics. This is an opportunity to bridge the gap of knowledge as a result of national boundaries. It is an opportunity for students to think ‘out of the box’ and beyond these boundaries.
The language of instruction in this module will be English to expand the language skills of the students. It will also provide training in the analysis, understanding and interpretation of health-related concepts in different regions. More importantly, the examination of trans-cultural processes and circumstances will be the primary target of this course. Thus is an attempt to expose the students to unfamiliar socio-cultural spaces and understand the ‘strangers’ living there, thus providing an avenue for global cultural understanding and appreciation.
Topics covered in the seminar include:
Africa: the Place, Peoples and Health Systems
Cultural Beliefs and Disease Etiology in Africa
Health and illness Behavior in African Context
Socio-cultural Context of HIV Prevalence
Africa and the Malaria Challenge
Traditional Medicine in Africa
Sexual Health and Rights
Capacity Development and International Health
Community Engagement in Maternal Health
International Training and Prospects of Health Care
Bioethical Agenda in the 21st Century
Research Ethics and Clinical Trials
The Consideration of Human Person in Bioethics