Eritrea to meet six of eight Millennium Development Goals

Eritrea is on track to achieve six of the eight UN Millennium Development Goals 

July 8, 2012 (ASMARA) — 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 2-7: 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 percent, declined child mortality levels under five by 57 percent, slashed HIV prevalence levels by 49 percent, and reduced Malaria infections by 90 percent.

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

______________________________________________

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

______________________________________________

Eritrea is one of the few sub-Sahara African nations on track
to meet most of its Millennium Development Goals

Eritrean Nurse in Asmara

Young pharmacist working at Azel Pharmaceutical company in Keren

Young pharmacist working at Azel Pharmaceutical company in Keren

                                                               

Eritrea has the highest life expectancy in mainland sub-Sahara Africa

Sponsored Ads