Lesson from Eritrea : Meeting MDGs as Soon as Possible
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) such as Eradication of Poverty (MDG1), Universal Primary Education (MDG2), Gender Equality, Reduction of Child Mortality (MDG4), Improvement of Maternal Health (MDG5), Combating HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other diseases (MDG6), and Ensuring Environmental Sustainability (MDG) have been the major concerns at a global level and particularly in developing countries. Eritrea, as a developing country, sets out to ensure all the MDGs are achieved with unyielding determination.
What Eritrea has so far achieved well ahead of the target year 2015 and particular in three of health related MDGs namely: reduction of child mortality, improvement of maternal health and combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases is a vivid indication of the unremitting efforts exerted towards the health and well-being of nationals throughout the country.
What really needs to be reiterated is that the commitment and active engagements of all nationals who have been involved in the realization of the charted out programs. Without active involvement and constructive engagement of the mainstream society there is nothing the Ministry of health or other institutions could achieve.
Thus, the achievement registered in the MDGs is not solely dependent of policies and actions with in the health sector but is also an achievement of all parties who contributed their out most share and particularly of the people of Eritrea.
Based on researched demands, healthcare strategies could be drafted and issued by the Ministry of Health, but there is in fact no sustainable achievement that solely relays on the efforts of one ministry or institution. Thus, what has been achieved so far in the health sector is a fruit of a collective efforts of the Ministry of Health, dedication of healthcare professional within the ministry of health, and more importantly active involvement and participation of communities as well as assistive role of development partners.
Eritrea has achieved MDG four through six before the target year. What this really shows is the strong can-do spirit which allows no delay and postpones of programs particularly in issues that concern societal well-being.
According to Ms. Christine N. Umutoni UN Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator in Eritrea, Eritrea is on track in achieving three MDGs such as reduction in child mortality, improve maternal health and in areas of combating HIV and AIDS, Malaria and other diseases. “HIV prevalence rate in Eritrea below one percent while most African countries have rates above 10%.” She said.
Ms. Christine also highlighted that Eritrea will probably be the first country in the Sub Saharan Africa to have achieved such a significant milestone apparently in three among the four MDGs Africa is off-track. “Eritrea needs to give Africa and the rest of the world lessons on how these successes were achieved. We, as UN family in Eritrea, are very eth this exited and feel very proud to be associated with this success.” is what Ms. Christine said in the commutative event of UN day in Eritrea held on 24th October 2013.
Most countries are off track of the millennium development goals such as MDG 1, MDG 4, MDG 5, MDG 6, which states eradication of extreme poverty and hunger. Most countries are on track in the realization of Universal Primary Education (MDG 2), Gender equality (MDG 3), and Environmental sanitation.
Even though what Eritrea has achieved in all millennium development goals is very encouraging a particular emphasis was given to three of the overall targets in which Eritrea has achieved ahead of the planned time. It is this achievement what makes Eritrea an exemplary nation in the African continent. Making remarkable achievement as soon as possible is what other nations could learn from Eritrea’s experience.