Eritrean Government's Progress Report

Eritrean Government's Progress Report

Nakfa: More than Currency - Photo Mohammed AbdulSalam

Many governments can claim they have improved a country's economy, others can claim they have reduced crime, or increased development, but how many governments you know can claim they gave a nation their country back from foreign occupiers? That's something a lot of people seem to ignore about Eritrea's government. It's a government filled with former freedom fighters who selflessly fought for 30 years (Africa's longest war) to liberate it from colonial forces. Nevertheless, they continue to fight on, this time, their main enemy being poverty and disease. Their weapons of choice these days are no longer Kalashnikov and hand grenades, but rather books, shovels, and medication. Using credible and neutral references, we'll take a look at some of the accomplishments made by the government.

Health Development of Eritrea


Since independence in 1991, the Eritrean government has been leading Sub-Sahara Africa in equitable, efficient and affordable health services. This is backed by numerous independent data such as the World Health Orginzation, which described Eritrea's health accomplishments with the following paragraph:

The health infrastructure has made considerable progress. Currently, there are 25 hospitals, 52 health centers, 180 healthstations and 113 clinics. Over sixty different medicine products are locally produced; key medicines are available in 95% of health facilities and there is no shortage of supplies and equipment. There is a National Drug Laboratory thatundertakes the quality control. Blood for transfusion is screened for transmissible infections including HIV/AIDS,Hepatitis and syphilis. Chronic diseases like Diabetes, Hypertension, Mental Health and infectious diseases likeTuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and other Sexually Transmitted Diseases are treated free of charge. The Government sustainsthe payment of all health professionals, maintenance of infrastructure and equipment and other running and capital investments.
World Health Organization

Life Expectancy in Eritrea

Life expectancy is the ultimate determining factor of living standard. Since independence, the government has played a critical role in increasing Eritrea's life expectancy from one of the lowest in 1991, to currently leading mainland Sub-Sahara Africa, with a 66 year average. In comparison, the average life expectancy in Africa is 54.

Eritrea's Life Expectancy Average: 66
Africa Life Expectancy Average: 54

Horn Nations	Life Expectancy (2009)	Average
Eritrea	Male: 64     Female: 68	66 Years
Ethiopia	Male: 53       Female: 56	54 Years
Sudan	Male: 59      Female: 59	59 Years
Somalia	Male: 51      Female: 51	51 Years

Eritrea's Life Expectancy Source: World Health Organization

HIV Prevalence in Eritrea

HIV has been devastating throughout Africa, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. Globally, Sub-Sahara Africa makes up 67% of all people living with HIV and is 72% of all AIDS-related deaths in 2008. At its highest peak, Eritrea's adult [15-49] HIV prevalence reached 1.4%, largely from rural area living near Ethiopia's border. In comparison, Sub-Sahara Africa's adult HIV prevalence was at 5.8%. Nevertheless, the government of Eritrea targeted HIV as a severe health crises, and over the last 8 years, has succeeded in reducing HIV prevalence in Eritrea by nearly half, to one of Africa's lowest figures of 0.8%.

Eritrea's Adult [15-49] HIV Prevalence: 0.8% [WHO]
Sub-Sahara Africa Adult [15-49] HIV Prevalence: 5.2% [UN]

Horn Nations	Numbers with HIV/Aids (2009)	Percent
Eritrea	25,000 est.	0.8%
Ethiopia	1.2 Million est.	2.4%
Sudan	250,000 est.	1.1%
SS-Africa	22 million est.	5.2%

Source: World Health Organization UNAids

Infant Child Mortality Rates in Eritrea

Eritrea's infant child mortality rate under 5 was 149.7 per 1,000 child in 1990, but by 2009, the government of Eritrea reduced this figure to 55.2 or a 63% reduction, which is the largest decline implemented in Africa.

Horn Nations	Child Mortality Rate, Under 5 (Per 1,000)	Percentage Change
Eritrea	149.7 in 1990 and 55.2 in 2009	63% reduction
Ethiopia	209.5 in 1990 and 104.4 in 2009	50% reduction
Sudan	123.5 in 1990 and 108.2 in 2009	12% reduction
Somalia	180 in 1990 and 180 in 2009	0

Child Source for Child Mortality Rate: WHO

Malaria Infection in Eritrea

Africa's biggest killer is Malaria. Annually, this mosquito derived disease kills more than a million people, to which most are under the age of five. Almost 90 percent of all Malaria victims occur in Sub-Sahara Africa [1]. Not surprisingly, malaria is also a menacing problem in Eritrea. In 2001,  there were approximately 125,736 cases of malaria admissions, while in 2009, that same figure was reduced to 21,298. In a short period of time, the government of Eritrea reduced malaria infection by 70% and declined Eritrea's malaria mortality by 83% [WHO].

To read more about Eritrea's malaria reduction statistics, visit here

Horn Nations	Malaria Cases & Deaths(2009)	Percentage
Eritrea	21,298 Cases and 23 Deaths	83% Mortality  Decline 70% Infection Decline
Ethiopia	205,002  cases and 30,102 Deaths[1]	43% Mortality Decline 41% Infection Decline
Sudan	Unknown	Unknown
Somalia	Unknown	Unknown

Malaria Source: World Health Organization


Literacy Rates in Eritrea

Eritrea's Literacy Rate has doubled in just 20 years, from 33% in 1991, to 67% in 2011. According to the latest United Nations literacy figures taken in 2008, Eritrea's literacy rate had been 65%. In a recent interview, Eritrea's ministry of education backed the UN data and said the literacy rate increased to 67% in 2011 (Shabait).

Horn Nations	Literacy rates	Percentage
Eritrea	33% in 1991 to 67% in 2011	67%
Ethiopia	Unknown in 1991 to 36% in 2008	36%
Sudan	Unknown in 1991 to 69% in 2008	69%
Somalia	Unknown	Unknown

Literacy Rate Source: UN Data

Eritrea's Development 

Infrastructure in Eritrea


Eritrea's infrastructure development has been impressive considering the severe external challenges placed on it and the subsequent defense spending needed to safeguard Eritrea's sovereignty. Be that as it may, in just 20 short years, the government of Eritrea has built some of the largest infrastructure projects in the horn of Africa. But since a picture speaks a thousand words, here are a few links showcasing a few of Eritrea's infrastructure projects that have been implemented.

Asmara - Keren - Massawa - New Eritrean College - Dahlak Development - Future Eritrean Construction Projects.


Intellectual Capital 


The most vital type of development for any nation is of the intellectual type. Tony Blair, the former Prime Minster of of the United Kingdom, used to boast the UK made more money from selling rock music (intellectual capital) than it did from its lucrative coal mining industry (commodity capital). Over the past 20 years, a renaissance like explosion in intellectual capital has taken place within Eritrea, particularly in Eritrean music, arts, books, movies and plays that bring in millions annually and have dominated the horn of Africa region culturally. In addition to those, thousands of homegrown doctors, nurses, scientist, professors, lawyers, geologist, archeologists and pharmacists have graduated in Eritrea, helping Eritrea become self-sufficient and assisting Eritrea in its immanent transition from a commodity based capital to an intellectual one.



Eritrean Economy 

Despite Eritrea being on war-footing with Ethiopia, which the later nation illegal occupies sovereign Eritrean territory, Eritrea's economy has grown at a steady pace. Since the start of 2011, Eritrea's economy is on a launching pad, as the years of investment in advanced agriculture development, along with its mining boom will have an instant affect. In fact, Eritrea's economic growth for 2011 is predicted to be among the fastest of the world, with some sources putting the growth rate  for 2011 as high as 17%. Even prior to Eritrea's fast growth levels of 2010 and 2011, Eritrea still had a steady growth average as the following paragraph written in 2008 demonstrates:

Take Eritrea. Long an isolationist nation determined to be self-reliant, the country's GDP and income both rose nearly 9 percent in the last ten years, with adult illiteracy dropping by 8.4 percent. Life expectancy, school enrollment and primary school completion rate all increased, while mortality rate dropped substantially. During the same period, Eritrea's ratings on the UN Human Development Index which measures achievement in three dimensions (long healthy life, knowledge and a decent standard of living) rose 9.3 percent.
An alternative to the World Bank and IMF, by Michael Shank and Ami carpenter, Nepal Times.

Eritrea's GDP Per Capita


Although still poor, Eritrea's economy, without hardly exporting any of its main resources, increased it's GDP Per Capita by nearly 60%. This growth is largely attributed to the investments made in modernizing it's agriculture sector. Last month, Eritrea started exporting its natural resources, which means its GDP Per Capita should accelerate in an upward trend for many years to come.

Horn Nations	GDP Per Capita (current US$ -  2009)	Percent change
Eritrea	149 in 1992  and  369 dollars in 2009	59.6%
Ethiopia	272 in 1992  and  342 dollars in 2009	20%
Sudan	242 in 1992  and 1,293 dollars in 2009	434%
Somalia	Unkown	Unknown

Source of GDP per capita: World Bank

Sponsored Ads