Friday, June 8, 2007

Africa needs more help

A report recently released by the UN stated that Africa is behind on achieving the Millennium Development Goals by 2015.

There were, however, several success stories that provide hope for the future:

  • Ghana is successfully implementing a national school feeding program using locally produced foods.
  • Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and many other countries have abolished fees for primary schools resulting in dramatic increases in enrolment during the space of a few years.
  • In 2006 Zambia cancelled fees for basic rural health services and Burundi introduced free medical care for mothers and children.
  • With support from the Red Cross Red Crescent, WHO, UNICEF and the US Centers for Disease Control, African countries such as Niger, Togo and Zambia have successfully launched national campaigns for measles vaccination and distribution of long-lasting insecticide-treated anti-malaria bed nets.
  • In Niger, hundreds of thousands of people in rural communities greatly improved their livelihoods and reduced their vulnerability to droughts through large-scale reforestation driven by national policy reforms.
  • Senegal is on track to achieving the water and sanitation goals through a national investment program financed with donor support.
Secretary General Ban Ki-moon requested more aid from developed countries during the G8 meetings in Germany in order to implement the UN's MDG practical plan. More generosity combined with genuine will and effort on behalf of African countries will set the continent back on track. Much like climate change, poverty all over Africa can be significantly reduced if all countries work together.

See here for ways you can get involved with the MDG campaign!