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Botswana: Country On Course to Achieve MDGs
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Mmegi/The Reporter (Gaborone)
25 October 2007
Posted to the web 25 October 2007
Kabo Mokgoabone
Representatives of the United Nations (UN) agencies in Botswana were in agreement on Tuesday that the country is on a good footing to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Addressing a press briefing ahead of the UN Day, slated for the Kweneng village of Lentsweletau today, Dr Jean Kalilani, the World Health Organisation (WHO) representative said Botswana is striving to achieve the ambitious goals by 2015.
"Botswana has fully embraced this (MDGs) initiative and continues to strive in fulfilling the set targets. The United Nations is committed to supporting Botswana in achieving the MDGs and Vision 2016," Kalilani told a media briefing at the Gaborone Sun Hotel.
UN officials say Botswana is achieving most of the eight MDGs set at the 2000 UN Millennium Summit to combat poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy, environmental degradation and discrimination against women.
Moses Keetile, the UN Population Fund national programme officer in Botswana says the country has realised significant poverty reduction from an estimated 47 percent in 1992 to 30.3 percent in 2002.
However, it was revealed that the country still faces challenges of income disparities and a wide gap between the rich and poor.
Botswana has achieved universal primary education. The 2004 Botswana MDGs status report says that from 1995-2000, the estimated net school enrolment rate for children aged 7-14 was consistently above 95 percent, peaking at 100 percent in 1999 and 2000.
Botswana has also eliminated gender disparities in most formal education with girls' enrolment in primary and secondary education at par with that of boys. However, the report says that Botswana women do not enjoy equitable treatment in control of productive resources. The report reveals that more financial institutions and government departments treat married women as de facto minors. It says women account for only 39 percent of workers aged 12 years and above.
But Botswana has managed to reduce child mortality although HIV/AIDS remains a challenge. The country is making strides on environmental sustainability with 97.7 percent of the population having access to safe drinking water by 2000 from 77 percent in 1996. However, the figure dropped to 95 percent in 2004 because of a wide range of factors, including an increase in demand for water usage.
"Botswana has been outstanding. Botswana economy has performed better than other countries," explained Keetile.
"There is evidence that there has been leadership support on the HIV/AIDS front. There has been significant inroads for provision of AIDS services," added Evaristo Marowa, UNAIDS country coordinator.
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"Botswana has done well on antiretroviral drugs and mother to child treatment," he added.
He said that the major challenge for Botswana in the fight against HIV/AIDS remains prevention. He said that if Botswana can mount a significant approach, there will be success in the fight against the virus.
The eight MDGs aim to eradicate poverty and hunger, achieve universal primary education, promote gender equality and empower women, reduce child mortality, improve maternal health and combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases. Others are to ensure environmental sustainability and develop global partnership for development.
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