Eritrea has achieved progress in promoting universal primary education and reducing the child mortality rate, and is now ranked 155 of 175 countries in this year’s Human Development Index, according to the Human Development Report (HDR) 2003, launched by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Asmara on 16 July.

This year’s HDR introduces a new plan of action – the Millennium Development Compact – to achieve the Millennium Development Goals which sets out time-bound and quantifiable targets to lift hundreds of millions of people out of poverty by 2015 and has been endorsed by all members of the United Nations.

Eritrean school children

For its part, Eritrea’s efforts to make its health systems work better since 1995 has brought down the child mortality rate by 20 percent, while the number of children now attending school has doubled in the last 10 years. The country’s health services have been extended from ten percent of the population in 1991 to 70 per cent in 2002. In the education sector, there has been a marked increase in the number of schools being built, particularly in previously disadvantaged areas. As a result of these improvements, in this year’s Human Development Index, which measures achievements in terms of life expectancy, educational attainment and adjusted real income, Eritrea has moved up the Human Development Index by two points from last year.

Speaking at the launch of the Report, Minister of Health Saleh Meki said Eritrea’s success in the health sector is the result of an effective policy, dedicated leadership and communal involvement. The Minister however said that though there was much for Eritrea to be proud of, there remained many challenges ahead in order for the country to achieve all the Millennium Development Goals. The spread of HIV/AIDS is one of those challenges, with the Ministry of Health estimating that the rate of infection is doubling every 18 months. Another challenge is widespread poverty in the country with more than 66 per cent of the population living below the national poverty line and when food is taken into account, more than 71 percent of the population is below the national poverty line. At present, due to drought and war, two million people are in need of humanitarian assistance. The Eritrean Government is currently preparing an Interim-Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper aimed at accelerating economic growth in support of the poor.

HIV VICTIMS NEED OUR COMPASSION - DOSRSG

The Director in the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Ms Agnes Asekenye-Oonyu, has called for compassion for people living with HIV/AIDS. Recalling her own experience in working with people living with the virus, she said it was imperative to treat such victims with the care and compassion needed to enable them to live fulfilling lives.

Ms Asekenye-Oonyu was speaking at the closing ceremony of the second HIV/AIDS Peer Leadership Training of Trainers Course held at the Staff Officers Camp, Asmara on 11 August. She said the disease was spreading at such an alarming rate and affecting so many people that it was necessary to actively stem the tide. She was full of praise for the facilitators of the course for devoting their time and energy to propagating UNMEE’s intervention to reduce the scourge and the stigma and discrimination associated with the disease.

The one-week intensive course, organised by UNMEE HIV/AIDS Office for both UNMEE military and civilian personnel and Eritreans vividly brought home the message on HIV/AIDS. The course explored basic facts and myths about the incidence of the disease, prevention and safe sex practices, stigma and discrimination against and treatment and care of people living with the virus, as well as effective methods for peer relationships that should lead to behavioural change. Three HIV-positive Eritreans for the first time ever participate in the UNMEE sponsored workshop and shared their experiences, expectations and prospects for positive and effective living, as part of the course.

Participants said afterwards that they had found the course highly rewarding and the live testimonies of the three persons living with AIDS, all of them committed to contributing effectively to UNMEE’s intervention programme to reduce the scourge of HIV/AIDS in the mission area.

Certificates of participation and Red Ribbon lapel pins were presented to participants. The closing ceremony was also attended by the Chief of Public Information, Ms Gail Bindley-Taylor Sainte, GI Training, Colonel Thalji Al Majali, and a representative of the Netherlands Embassy to Asmara

Students collaborate at training course