Interview with Dr. Mismay G/Hiwet, an advisor to the Ministry of Health

Millennium Development Goals: The Eritrean Version

MDG1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger:  Eritrea’s Goal is not just to eradicate ‘extreme’ poverty but do away with poverty once and for all. And it is evident that Eritrea will achieve food security in the near future.

MDG 2: Achieve universal primary education:
-More than 87% of Eritrean children have been able to gain access to education.

MDG 3: Promote gender equality and empower women
-    the participation of girls in education is almost 50% of that of male students 
-    Eritrea is the only country in Africa that made FGM illegal
-    the equality of women is secured under the law
-    women in Eritrea have equal economic opportunities and they participate equal in all the economic and service rendering sectors 

MDG 4: Reduce child mortality
-    99% success was scored in child vaccination
-    Polio, measles and ….were completely eradicated 
-    Infant mortality rate was reduced 80%

MDG 5: Improve maternal health
-a clinic was built in every administrative district
99% of Eritrean mothers receive maternal health care (this figure in 97% in developed countries and 53% in developing third world nations)

MDG 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
-mortality rate caused by malaria was completely eradicated and …
-the rate of HIV/AIDS infection is remarkably low. Perhaps the lowest in Africa.

MDG 7: Ensure environmental sustainability
-continued efforts are underway in water, soil and vegetation conservation
-as part of efforts to protect the environment, Eritrea one of the few nations that banned and stopped the use of plastic bags

MDG 8: Develop a Global Partnership for Development

* These are only a few examples of the progress made in Eritrea. This is the Eritrea of Eritreans. 

Shabait, November 2009