Eritrea - Ministry of Information

It has been proven that Eritrea possesses valuable gold, iron, potash, copper, zinc and other land and marine natural resources. For centuries, the natural resources remained unexplored and unexploited.  The exploration and exploitation carried out with limited capacity at different times were hampered due to war and other reasons.

Endowed with fascinating unpolluted coastline and abundant land and marine resources, the Northern Red Sea region was the origin of civilization and a gate way for the introduction of Christianity and Islamic faiths to the country. Though this region had endured devastating destruction at the hands of colonial powers, it is now rising up to become a hub for economic progress in the nation’s development drive. The past 20 years of independence were a transitional period for the region from destruction to modernization. To evaluate the past accomplishment and shortcomings, the Northern Red Sea region conducted a symposium from 25 to 26 March with more than 500 participants.

The second day of the Health Ministry’s symposium opened with a study paper that discussed about the activities that have been carried out in maternal and child health care.  Achievements in such health care delivery have been registered through concerted efforts in family and community health care.  Dr. Birhana Haile, Director of family and community health at the ministry talked about health conditions of families and communities in 1991 and the achievements registered since then.

Gezayn Hikimnan Gorebabti- roughly translated as a hospital next to my house- a song performed by Yatana music Group in the opening of Health Ministry’s symposium reflects the availability of healthcare services in respective localities. Concerted efforts that have been made are indeed significantly remarkable that primary healthcare services throughout Eritrea have become easily accessible through the construction of new health institutions and renovation activities that created smooth network of synergy among health institutions of different levels.

Far places have been getting nearer and nearer to one another. Geographical gap is no longer a barrier.  Slow and monotonous means of transport and communications have been gradually substituted by more advanced and faster systems. The coming together of smooth and easy road networks, internet connection, postal services, telecommunications, maritime transportation, and aviation services in perfect harmony have been playing a very decisive role in creating  a more balanced and efficient service.  It is the synergy of the development in all sectors that enables any given society to live in perfect harmony with its surroundings and even reach far off places at ease.

The 20 years of independence have been a period of Eritrea’s pride in a number of ways.  One couldn’t imagine any sort of achievement without implementing the groundwork that contribute for comprehensive development in varied sectors that require skilled and knowledge-driven human power that would in turn give impetuous to all sorts of development. The key element that plays a determinant role in affecting almost every sector is thus education. Educating societies is therefore building a nation.  Unless all members of a society are educated, there would be no comprehensive individual or national development.  The education sector in the past 20 years has solved much of the nation’s deficits through skills that have been acquired in many areas of specializations. An educational system which is directed under the principle “Education for All” has enabled even the remote parts of the nation become beneficiaries of access to education.