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202 Fighting the Diseases of Poverty
root causes of extreme poverty and ill health. In this regard, a
growing body of literature implicates corruption, weak or nonexistent
rule of law and limits on economic freedom (see e.g.
Greenspan, 2003; Gwartney & Lawson, 2004; Kasper, 2006). The
reform of governance structures must therefore be a priority; that
means strengthening property rights, liberating markets and
entrenching the rule of law.
Admittedly, the reform of governance in sovereign states is
outside the bounds of WHO policy. But the fact that so many African
governments are corrupt and ineffective does not excuse the WHO
from promulgating the disastrous strategies it has followed. Indeed,
the very fact that health infrastructure is so weak in the world’s
poorest countries makes many of these strategies all the more
absurd.