Health Aid and Child Mortality in Africa: Framework for Post-2015 Development Agenda

Abstract:

A number of health intervention programmes succeeded in developing countries following assistance from the international community in form of grants, development loans, and contributions of expertise and drugs. According to findings, several studies have examined the effectiveness of development assistance (Ogundipe, Ojeaga and Ogundipe 2014; Moyo 2009: Burnside and Dollar 2000). While some argue that development assistance promotes growth (Burnside and Dollar 2000; Ferah 2009; and Durbarry et al., 1998), other strand of literature were of the opinion that foreign aid impedes economic growth because it encourages corruption, encourages rent seeking behaviour and erodes bureaucratic institution (Moyo 2009; Ali and Isse 2005; Knack 2001). However, with the failure of Africa economies in attaining MDG 4 target, which aimed at reducing child mortality by two-third of 1990 level in 2015 and the persistent health problems faced by developing Africa nations; it becomes expedient to disaggregate aid and assess the unique impact of the global institution efforts, in terms of health aid towards on improving child survival.