WHO says African countries lagging behind on MDGs

WHO says African countries lagging behind on MDGs

The Word Health Organisation (WHO) says 46 Africa member countries still have remarkable challenges to scale before meeting the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

The Africa Regional Director of WHO, Dr Luis Sambo, told the 61st session of the WHO Regional meeting, that ”countries must pursue dynamic policies to push toward the MDGs.''
Sambo said that free medical care for citizens by some countries was in good direction, and called for the long-term sustainability of the projects.

The regional director said the suggestions by some countries to institute a regional fund for maternal and infant mortality would make a difference, noting, however, that such funds could draw scepticism from members as well.

``We should finish with the Regional Emergency Fund first, then we can look at the fund for maternal and child mortality’’, he stated.

MDGs summary

An executive summary of the MDGs presented at the meeting of the ministers of health, however, cast doubts on the possibility of African countries, meeting the goals.

Verdict

The summary states that most countries in the African region have made more progress in the new millennium than during the 1990s but are still not on track to achieve the health and health-related MDGs in spite of the commitments made by governments and partners.

According to the report, this situation stems from low level of implementation of effective interventions, weak health systems and limited progress in addressing the broader social and environmental determinants of health.

``Amongst 46 countries in the region, only seven are on track to achieve the MDG4 target on child health and only two countries Equatorial Guinea and Eritrea are on track to achieve MDG 5 target on maternal mortality'', the report stated.

The summary also indicated that Botswana and Rwanda have anti-retroviral treatment coverage of more than 80 percent for people living with HIV.

The progress in the malaria-related MDG target could not be assessed for lack of adequate data, while Tanzania and the Comoros were said to be on track to achieve the MDG target for tuberculosis.

Also, twelve countries are on track to achieve the MDG7 target on safe drinking water supply, while Mauritius and Algeria are on track to achieve the target for basic sanitation.

Challenges

It further stated that the challenges include inadequate internal and external resources allocated to the achievement of the MDGs, wealth health systems, including weak human and institutional capacity.

Others are persisting inequalities in access to proven interventions against maternal mortality and child mortality, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria as well low priority accorded to health in national economic and development priority setting and resource allocation policies.

In his reaction to the summary, South Africa's Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, said the commercialisation of health services posed serious threats to the realisation of the MDGs.

Motsoaledi said private sector involvement in pursuing results in the health sector had undermined the social implications of policies by pursuing profits and quick gains, especially from the poor.

NAN/Susan/Ekata