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| Buhsman children, South Africa
© Mark Håkansson/Survival |
The Lancet, the world's leading medical journal, has published an
article heavily criticising the Botswana government's eviction of the
Gana and Gwi Bushmen
from the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. The report says that far from
improving the Bushmen's lives, eviction has led to a dramatic
deterioration in their health.
The forced removal of the San [Bushmen] from the Central Kalahari Game
Reserve in Botswana provides a stark example both of prejudice and the
exercise of majority power, and of the consequences to the social
structure and health of the dispossessed,' reads the article.
The Lancet cites increasing exposure to HIV/AIDS as an example of the
effects of eviction on the Bushmen. It also states that across
Botswana, increasing consumption of alcohol in San settlements has
been reported over the last two decades, attributed to cultural
upheaval and loss of land, resources and community networks.'
The article emphasises the importance of land rights in determining
indigenous peoples' health in Africa. [E]vidence indicates that
Indigenous health is systematically worse in many respects than that of
majority populations, particularly where through loss of land and other
natural resources they are no longer able to maintain traditional
livelihoods and sustain traditional culture, knowledge and institutions.
Indigenous people define themselves in terms of their relationships
with their land, making their environment essential not only for
physical provisioning and regulating services but also for physical and
cultural survival.'
Bushman leader Roy Sesana, who lives in one of the government
resettlement camps, says, JCBs and caterpillars are working here now
but they aren't doing development, they are bringing in AIDS... We only
expect old people to die, but right now we are dying like never before.'
To read the Lancet's summary or download the article in full click here
To read the Lancet's series on indigenous health click here
For further information contact Miriam Ross on (+44) (0)20 7687 8734 or email mr@survival-international.org
