|
03 November,2010
UN Resident Representative
Ahunna Eziakonwa-Onochie and the Representatives of UN Agencies met
with the private sector during the UN Week Celebrations on the 20th
October 2010. Ahunna Eziakonwa-Onochie said in her speech ‘Given
the short time left before 2015, we need to put the goals on a
fast-track and everyone has to do business unusual.’
Business unusual is
urgently needed as Lesotho’s performance regarding the goals is
mixed (See table below). Progress has been reported on achieving
universal primary education and gender equality. On the other hand,
maternal and child mortality has increased year by year and poverty
and hunger remain a challenge.
|
MDG |
|
Some Indicators |
Status |
|
1. |
Combating HIV/AIDS, TB and other diseases |
HIV
Prevalence:
23.6% in 2009 (+0.4% from 2007), target 17%
Life Expectancy
at birth: 46.3 years in 2008, target 63 years |
Slow
progress |
|
2. |
Eradicate extreme poverty and hunder |
Vulnerable to food insecurity:
25% of the population in 2005
Unemployment: 23% in 2008 but 29.4% in 2009, target 15% |
Off
track |
|
3. |
Achieve Universal primary education |
Net
enrolment:
80.9% in 2009, target 100%
Literacy:
8/10 women and 6/10 males between ages 15-24
Adult
literacy rate:
82% in 2005, target 100% |
On
track |
|
4. |
Promote gender equality and empower women |
Primary School:
97 girls/100 boys in 2007, target 200
Secondary school:
131 girls/100 boys in 2007, target 100
Women
parliamentarians:
5% in 1993 but 24.2% in 2007, target 30% |
On
track |
|
5. |
Reduce
child mortality |
Child
mortality (under 5):
119 deaths per 1,000 births in 2009, target 37
Infant
mortality:
constant 91 per 1,000 live births between 2004 – 2009 target 24 |
Off
track |
|
6. |
Improve maternal health |
Maternal mortality:
282 in
1990 per 100,000 live births
419 in
2000
762 in
2004
939 in
2006
970 in
2009 target 300 |
Off
track |
|
7. |
Ensure
Environmental sustainability |
Proportion to people without access to safe drinking water:
26.1% in 2006, target 19%
Proportion of people without access to basic sanitation: 25.7% in 2006, target 33% |
Slow
progress |
The Government was
represented by the Honourable Minister of Finance and Development
Planning Timothy Thahane, Honourable Minister of Tourism,
Environment and Culture Mannete Ramaili and the Principal Secretary
of the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning Mosito Khethisa.
The Honourable Minister of
Finance and Development Planning Timothy Thahane highlighted the
Government’s role ‘The Government needs to be a committed enabler
for private sector development and operation.’
From the Private sector
presentations were made by Tsepong-Netcare on the work on improving
the healthcare system in Lesotho through the new Public Private
Partnership hospital, Letseng Diamonds on MDG work through Corporate
Social Responsibility, Vodacom on establishing a foundation for
advancing development, and Basutoland Ink from the young
entrepreneurs perspective how to lift national identity and
encourage entrepreneurial spirit.
A round table discussion
was held on how the private sector could come on board more actively
to accelerate achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)
as only five years remain to reach the set targets.
The private sector
expressed their willingness and ability to contribute towards
achievement of the goals and a standing forum on MDGs to provide an
opportunity for the private sector to engage with each other was
suggested, with the government and the academia to share information
on initiatives on the MDGs.
Concluding the inputs from
the meeting a three pronged approach was put forward: Commitment
Pact for the Private Sector – with clear MDG targets; MDG MONITOR –
to follow progress; and a Communication Framework.
In addition to the private
sector, round table discussions on MDGs during the UN week were held
with the Government and parliamentarians, the religious leaders and
youth, on increasing efforts and engagement to achieve the goals by
2015. The message is clear – everybody needs to work harder than
ever to reduce poverty and hunger, improve the health of Basotho,
and strive to achieve gender equality and environmental
sustainability. |
