On September 19, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wazed received a UN award for the country’s extraordinary performance in reducing child mortality rate, a millennium developmental goal (MDG). The Award is an encouragement for Bangladesh to continue its pursuit in achieving the suggested target of the MDGs. This present award will also be helpful in melting of the long standing image of the country as an impoverished nation struggling with problem like fundamentalist militancy and political instability due to its confrontational political culture. Bangladesh’s model needs to be studied closely by many developing country who are struggling to achieve MDG targets.
In September 2000, 189 countries attended the Millennium Summit and signed the Millennium Development Declaration, a manifesto that set 8 goals including eradicate extreme poverty and hunger, achieve universal primary education, promote gender equality and empower women, reduces child mortality, improve maternal health, combat HIV/ AIDS, malaria and other disease, ensure environmental sustainability develop a global partnership for development. The first seven goals are to be pursued by the developing countries and the eighth goal essentially a commitment for global partnership, a compact of rich and poor countries to work together to achieve the first seven goals. The MDGs are set of numerical and time bound target to be achieved by 2015 taking the 1990 as the base year. MDGs have been the focus of policy planning in various developing countries including Bangladesh.
In 1990 Child mortality rate In Bangladesh below the age of five was 149 in per thousand which came down to 54 in per thousand in 2008. This b certainly remarkable achievement, particularly looking at the progress made by India which is double in size of the country in terms of economic, global influence and geography. In India child mortality below the age of five in 1990 was 116 in per thousand which stood at 67 in per thousand in 2008.
Despite Bangladesh’s record of poor governance, regarded as hindrance for success of health policies, the country’s present achievement is truly commendable. Bangladesh’s story is a glaring example that any targets could be achieved there is sustained political commitment. right policy approach and desire by the people to achieve the goal. In 1998 the country launched the health and population sector programme to reform the health sector to provide essential health care services to the people and lower the rate of population growth. Objectives of this programme were: - reduction of infant mortality and morbidity, reduction of maternal mortality and morbidity and improvement of nutritional status of the people. To take this forward it adopted a model that included formation of maternal and child health based strategies, establishment of network of field workers and service centres, committed field force with women-to women services, decentralized service delivery system, advocacy that also involved religious and other community leaders, proactive role of the mass media, involvement of women but important of all the role of the non-governmental organization which played a catalyst role in the social development of the country. Besides, the country also made substantial progress in reducing gender disparity in the primary and secondary education. The enrollment of female student is increasing steadily. In fact enrollment ratio of female student is more than male student in secondary education.
However, it is an irony that there is no talk about these developments in India, the country’s closest neighbour. Except some scholars who deal with the relations there is hardly anyone who knows about these developments. Looking at the existing state of perceptions about the country it is very important to disseminate proper picture of the country. This is also necessary as both the countries are working for strengthening the relationship.
(The author is Associate Fellow at the Observer Research Foundation. New Delhi. Views expressed are personal.)
Courtesy: Eastern Chronicle
On September 19, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wazed received a UN award for the country’s extraordinary performance in reducing child mortality rate, a millennium developmental goal (MDG). The Award is an encouragement for Bangladesh to continue its pursuit in achieving the suggested target of the MDGs. This present award will also be helpful in melting of the long standing image of the country as an impoverished nation struggling with problem like fundamentalist militancy and political instability due to its confrontational political culture. Bangladesh’s model needs to be studied closely by many developing country who are struggling to achieve MDG targets.
In September 2000, 189 countries attended the Millennium Summit and signed the Millennium Development Declaration, a manifesto that set 8 goals including eradicate extreme poverty and hunger, achieve universal primary education, promote gender equality and empower women, reduces child mortality, improve maternal health, combat HIV/ AIDS, malaria and other disease, ensure environmental sustainability develop a global partnership for development. The first seven goals are to be pursued by the developing countries and the eighth goal essentially a commitment for global partnership, a compact of rich and poor countries to work together to achieve the first seven goals. The MDGs are set of numerical and time bound target to be achieved by 2015 taking the 1990 as the base year. MDGs have been the focus of policy planning in various developing countries including Bangladesh.
In 1990 Child mortality rate In Bangladesh below the age of five was 149 in per thousand which came down to 54 in per thousand in 2008. This b certainly remarkable achievement, particularly looking at the progress made by India which is double in size of the country in terms of economic, global influence and geography. In India child mortality below the age of five in 1990 was 116 in per thousand which stood at 67 in per thousand in 2008.
Despite Bangladesh’s record of poor governance, regarded as hindrance for success of health policies, the country’s present achievement is truly commendable. Bangladesh’s story is a glaring example that any targets could be achieved there is sustained political commitment. right policy approach and desire by the people to achieve the goal. In 1998 the country launched the health and population sector programme to reform the health sector to provide essential health care services to the people and lower the rate of population growth. Objectives of this programme were: - reduction of infant mortality and morbidity, reduction of maternal mortality and morbidity and improvement of nutritional status of the people. To take this forward it adopted a model that included formation of maternal and child health based strategies, establishment of network of field workers and service centres, committed field force with women-to women services, decentralized service delivery system, advocacy that also involved religious and other community leaders, proactive role of the mass media, involvement of women but important of all the role of the non-governmental organization which played a catalyst role in the social development of the country. Besides, the country also made substantial progress in reducing gender disparity in the primary and secondary education. The enrollment of female student is increasing steadily. In fact enrollment ratio of female student is more than male student in secondary education.
However, it is an irony that there is no talk about these developments in India, the country’s closest neighbour. Except some scholars who deal with the relations there is hardly anyone who knows about these developments. Looking at the existing state of perceptions about the country it is very important to disseminate proper picture of the country. This is also necessary as both the countries are working for strengthening the relationship.
(The author is Associate Fellow at the Observer Research Foundation. New Delhi. Views expressed are personal.)
Courtesy: Eastern Chronicle
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