West Africa

==Health==
{{Main|History of West Africa#Health}}
West Africa has made considerably improvement in the health outcomes of its populations, in spite of the challenges posed by pervasive poverty, epidemic diseases, and food insecurity. The traditional communicable diseases of HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis are still the major reasons of mortality. Primary health care is the best answer to curing diseases, as it provides the basic preventive strategies as it reduce the rate of child and maternal morbidity and mortality—two of the most preventable outcomes that can prolong life expectancy at birth.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Azevedo |first=Mario J. |title=Historical Perspectives on the State of Health and Health Systems in Africa, Volume II |chapter=The State of Health System(s) in Africa: Challenges and Opportunities |date=February 2017 |series=African Histories and Modernities |pages=1–73 |doi=10.1007/978-3-319-32564-4_1|pmc=7123888 |isbn=978-3-319-32563-7 }}</ref> Recently, mental health problems are on the rise in West Africa, as they are in many other world regions. However, the subject is largely a taboo, and professional treatment is still rare.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Abi|first1=Samir|title=Metaphysical explanations|url=https://www.dandc.eu/en/article/west-africa-traditional-or-religious-practices-are-often-preferred-method-treating-mental|website=D+C, Development and Cooperation|date=12 June 2019 }}</ref>