National News
Eritrea wins broad acclaim for achievements in reducing child and mother mortality rate and controlling malaria epidemic
By Staff
May 9, 2008, 12:01

Asmara, 8 May 2008 - Eritrea won broad acclaim and was cited as an exemplary nation at the Burkina Faso International Conference on Basic Health Care for the major achievements it has registered in reducing child and mother mortality rate as well as controlling malaria epidemic. The conference that was held from April 28 to 30 was attended by a delegation from the Eritrean Ministry of Health headed by the Minister, Mr. Saleh Meki.

The Conference assessed the activities carried out over the past 30 years by each participating country in implementing the program envisaged in 1978 as regards “Ensuring Heath to All by the Year 2000.” Taking note of the fact that most African countries, especially Sub-Saharan nations, failed to effectively implement the strategy mapped out, and reviewing its root causes, delegates to the conference conducted in-depth discussion on the measures taken by the respective nations which succeeded in implementing the strategy.

The Eritrean delegation presented a paper on the strategy applied to control malaria and the major achievements registered which was cited as being “exemplary” in view of the fact that Eritrea has taken major leap forward beyond the action program drafted at the Abuja conference. This was disclosed by Dr. Zemui Alemu, director of family and community health care in the Ministry of Health, who participated in the Burkina Faso conference.

Assessing that most countries have failed to make good use of the projects drawn up due to lack of efficient management, the delegates reached understanding that the cause is also because each participating nation is not allocating 15% of its GNP to the health sector.

Twenty one ministers and over 600 representatives from different countries took part in the conference organized jointly by the WHO Africa Regional Office and partners.