Why is Africa failing on health MDGs?
Researchers say just nine of 137 developing countries will achieve ambitious targets to improve the health of women and children.
MDG4 aims to reduce the death rate for children aged under five by two-thirds between 1990 and 2015.
MDG5 states an ambition to cut deaths among pregnant women and new mothers by three-quarters during the same timescale.
The experts predict that no country in sub-Saharan Africa will meet the goals to dramatically reduce deaths by 2015.
The targets were set by world leaders in 2000. Were they realistic? Is it better to aim high and fail, or would more be achieved if the goals set were more easily attainable? Have you seen any improvement in healthcare for mothers and children in the last decade?
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Comment number 1.
At 14:35 20th Sep 2011, Z Tarachi wrote:Dear HYS,
Politics is the answer. When interest override duty then a sitting Minister will think more about his job than his duty.
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Comment number 2.
At 15:05 20th Sep 2011, Kingsley O wrote:Reducing infant mortality and pregnant women's death by 2/3rd is acheivable if there is comittment. It is been proven that a relatively cheap and accessible pre-natal and post-natal care is all that is needed. Africans leaders need to invest in state of the arts hospitals/medical facilities instead going abroad.
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Comment number 3.
At 00:53 21st Sep 2011, Joey A wrote:An old saying which still stands true today "When there is the will, there is a way". That could be possible if African leaders quit worrying about their own stomachs but we know it's wishful thinking.It unrealistic and sure it ain't going to happen.
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Comment number 4.
At 15:27 21st Sep 2011, Mzee Freddie wrote:The goals set appear to have been made without looking medical infrustructure on the continent. There are inadequate facilities, and supporting policies in most of the African countries.
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Comment number 5.
At 21:18 21st Sep 2011, yemti ndienla wrote:Simple, Africa is failing due to wide spread corruption!
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Comment number 6.
At 00:17 22nd Sep 2011, Ddungu Musa Evans wrote:Corrupted and high level thieves serving in African governments are the one to blame. for example in Uganda health care system has failed because corrupt officials are being protected by the president himself. this has made more harm than good, African countries needs good governance before implementing such advanced systems.
Ddungu Musa Evans
Ugandan living in New Zealand
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Comment number 7.
At 11:00 24th Sep 2011, DrBabu wrote:There is lack for health care workers (HCW) in Africa. We need more health care workers than doctors. The HCWs can be trained in each town and they can be connected with mobile phones with designated MDs for complicated cases. That will reduce the morbidity and mortality in general and esp related to pregnancy.
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Comment number 8.
At 03:32 27th Sep 2011, Gordy aburime wrote:Africa is falling on everything from economics to health MDGs. we re good at nothing else except wars and corruptions of all kind.
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