By Madote.com,
Eritrea is on pace to achieve six of the eight UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by the target date of 2015, according to the London-based think tank, Africa Research Institute[1] and the United Nations Development Programme.[2]
The six MDGs Eritrea is on track in achieving are from MDG 2-to-7 that are Universal Primary Education, Gender Equality and Empowering Women, Reducing Child Mortality, Improvement of Maternal Health, Combating HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other Disease and Ensuring Environmental Sustainability.
Since the MDGs were introduced in late 2000, reports indicate Eritrea has reduced its maternal mortality rates by 69 %, declined child mortality levels under five by 57 %, slashed HIV prevalence levels by 49 %, and reduced Malaria infections by 90%.
In striving to provide adequate and cost-effective health service, Dr. Mismay Gebrehiwet, an advisor to the Ministry of Health, disclosed Eritrea has started producing its own antiviral drugs to combat HIV/AIDs.
“The government is committed to provide the drug free of charge to all HIV infected persons.”[3], Dr. Gebrehiwet said in an interview with ERI-TV.
The MDGs are a comprehensive framework endorsed by 189 countries at the UN Millennium Summit in September of 2000. They were introduced as a road map for developing nations to reduce poverty, hunger, ill-health, improving education, and environmental sustainability by 2015.
| ERITREA | MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS | PROGRESS | |
|---|---|---|---|
| MDG 1 | Eradicate Extreme Hunger and Poverty | Off Track ✗ | |
| MDG 2 | Achieve Universal Primary Education | On Track ✓ | |
| MDG 3 | Promote Gender Equality & Empower Women | On Track ✓ | |
| MDG 4 | Reduce Child Mortality | On Track ✓ | |
| MDG 5 | Improve Maternal Health | On Track ✓ | |
| MDG 6 | Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria & other Disease | On Track ✓ | |
| MDG 7 | Ensure Environmental Sustainability | On Track ✓ | |
| MDG 8 | Develop a Global Partnership for Development | Off Track ✗ | |
| Sources: Africa Research Institute, UNDP, Dr. Gibrehiwet | |||
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Notes:
[1] Princes’ Progress: Reconstruction and authority in Eritrea and Rwanda, Africa Research Institute, March 2011, page 3
[2] On page 16 of Eritrea’s comprehensive response to the Somalia and Eritrea Monitoring Group, a senior government official; citing UNDP officials, said Eritrea is on track to achieve six of the eight MDGs
[3] Dr. Mismay Gebrehiwet’s interview with ERI-TV, FEB 15, 2012, via Eastafro.com
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