Eritrea has achieved impressive progress on health-related Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs), members of the United Nations and the Government
observed here in an event organized during the UN General Assembly.
The discussion was hosted by the Permanent Mission of Eritrea to the United
Nations, the UN Resident Coordinator in Asmara, Christine Umutoni, with the
Foreign Minister of Eritrea, Osman Saleh and Yoka Brandt, the Deputy
Executive Director of UNICEF as keynote speakers.
In more than twenty years since independence, the Eastern African country
reduced child mortality by two thirds, decreased the maternal mortality
ratio from 1,700 to 380 per 100,000 live births, and maintained
exceptionally low HIV and tuberculosis prevalence rates.
Around 98 percent of all children are now immunized, as compared with 14
percent only at independence.
"Eritrea has emerged from 30 years of a devastating war, with non-existing
infrastructural, institutional and human resources capacity," said Osman
Saleh. "It has been able to make real progress in all areas of social,
economic and political development," he added.
Eritrea's concerted efforts, bold policies and considerable investments are
considered responsible for the dramatic changes in the health sector.
"What we see as development partners, what is responsible for this success
is community participation, the enabling environment, leadership, strong
mechanisms for prevention, value for money and coordinated inter-sectoral
approaches," said Christine Umutoni.
She added that community and women's involvement were key to tackling health
challenges.
Ms. Umutoni also pointed out that the country has put into place a number of
innovations to accelerate change. These include temporary maternal clinics,
mobile medical units, as well as knowledge of migration patterns and remote
areas.
Generating statistics, sustaining funding, partnerships with the private
sector and human resource capacity were identified as priorities.
Participants agreed that success on MDGs 4,5 and 6 should serve as lessons
for all other goals and targets, and inform priorities for the post-2015
development agenda in Eritrea.
Keynote addresses were followed by technical presentations by Abraham
Kidane, Economic Advisor to the Ministry of Development, and Usman
Abdulmumini, WHO representative in Eritrea.