Eritrea achieves three UN MDGs ahead of 2015 target date

Eritrea achieved three UN MDGs ahead of the target date of 2015 - Photo: Eritrean students in Massawa

Eritrea achieves three UN MDGs ahead of 2015 target date  

During a speech made in connection with the observance of United Nations Day in Asmara, Amna Nur-Hussein, the Minister of Health stated Eritrea has achieved three of the eight UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) ahead the 2015 target date.
.
The three MDGs Eritrea has achieved are all health-related: reducing infant child mortality by two-thirds (MDG 4); improve maternal health (MDG 5); and combating HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other diseases (MDG 6).

Speaking at the occasion, Christine N. Umutoni, the UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Eritrea, lauded the country's achievements in the health sector and sees it as a model for other nations to follow.

“HIV prevalence rate in Eritrea is below one percent while most African countries have rates above 10%.” She said. "Eritrea needs to give Africa and the rest of the world lessons on how these successes were achieved."

According to the World Health Organization, Eritrea has declined malaria infections by 90%; is on track to reduce maternal mortality by 75%; declined HIV/AIDs prevalence by 49% to 0.8%; improved access to potable water to 85% and has nearly doubled its adult literacy rates to 80%.

Part of Eritrea's early success can be attributed to its partners. Among the most notable is Dr. Lisa Materson, the former co-host from the American TV show "The Doctors", who opened an OBGYN residency in the country.

I am very proud of the OBGYN residency that I started in Eritrea!! They are on track to decrease their maternal mortality by 75% by 2015!!!
— Lisa Masterson (@drLisaM) September 30, 2013

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 December 31, 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	Achieved    ✓
MDG 5	Improve Maternal Health	Achieved   ✓
MDG 6	Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria & other Diseases	Achieved    ✓
MDG 7	Ensure Environmental Sustainability	On Track    ✓
MDG 8	Develop a Global Partnership for Development	On Track    ✓
Eritrea is on track to reach seven of eight MDGs by December 31, 2015

Charts courtesy of  FikreJesus Amahazion:

Regional HIV/AIDS Prevalence rate - Eritrea stands at 0.6% 

Malaria deaths per 1000 population declined by 90%. 

Diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP3) immunization coverage in East Africa

Sponsored Ads