Beginnings Issue 12.pub - Planning Institute of Jamaica

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P a g e 10 I s s u e 12 MDG 8... that its goal was to have universal access to anti-retroviral drugs for all persons living with HIV/AIDS who need treatment. 2 Anti-retroviral distribution to pharmacies and clients are now monitored through a partnership with the National Health Fund (NHF) and each client is given a NHF card to access their medication. Partnership with a local pharmaceutical provider has also contributed to increasing the access to anti-retroviral drugs. Information and Communication Technologies Although internet use is increasing rapidly, the poorest regions are still lagging behind. Worldwide, the number of internet users rose from 7 to 18 per 100 population between 2000 and 2006, whilst in the developing regions, those figures were 2 and 11 per 100 population (See Figure 5). In developed countries, these figures changed from 30 to 58 per 100 population between 2000 and 2006. Figure 5. Number of Telephone Subscriptions and Internet Connections per 100 population, world, 1990- 2006 Source: MDG Report 2008 On a more positive note, mobile phone use is expanding in developing countries, especially in those regions where fixed lines were relatively few. During 2006, 60 million new mobile subscribers were recorded in all of Africa, almost every country having more mobile than fixed line subscribers. Similarly, the Jamaican Government has invested in and expanded the ICT infrastructure in a bid to boost efficiency and production; improve telecommunications and increase access to global knowledge through the internet. Internet penetration within the country has been on the increase reaching 39.4 3 per 100 population in 2006. In 2006 13.7 per cent 4 of households in Jamaica reported having a computer. Of those households having computers, 44.6 per cent reported having an internet connection. Households in the Kingston Metropolitan Area have both a higher percentage computer ownership and internet connection. At the end of 2005, the mobile penetration rate was approximately 81per cent and total telephone (mobile and fixed) penetration rate was 94 per cent 5 These figures, plus the advancement of wireless technologies, are creating the opportunities to close the digital and communications gaps between developing and developed countries. Positive Outlook Despite the fact that progress toward the achievement of this goal is lagging somewhat, a few countries, have managed to implement measures which have yielded some level of success. The UN Department of Public Information reported in September 2008 that due to a differential pricing agreement and financial support received through the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, Kenya has increased the availability of artemether-lumefantrine, an effective malaria drug. In the pricing agreement, the manufacturer of the drug, Novartis, sells it at lower costs to public health systems in developing countries. Mali and other African producers of mangoes benefited from technical assistance provided by an inter-agency UN programme called Integrated Framework for Trade-related Technical Assistance. Through a project which facilitated the phytosanitary treatment of 2,000 hectares of orchards in 2006, the export of mangoes from Mali increased by 50 per cent from 2005 to 2006, generating a profit of $12 million for the Malian economy. UN Recommendations In order to steer the world toward the successful achievement of MDG 8 the United Nations has recommended a number of measures. These challenge the OECD and other wealthy nations to:
P a g e 11 I s s u e 12 MDG 8... • Bring commitments on ODA back on track, especially the 2002 Monterrey Consensus reaffirmation of 0.7 per cent of GNI; the ODA commitments of 0.15–0.20 per cent of GNI to LDCs included in the Action Plan for LDCs; and the 2005 G8 Gleneagles summit commitment to double aid to Africa from $25 billion in 2004 to $50 billion, at constant price dollars, by 2010. • Accelerate implementation of the Paris Declaration to increase the quality, effectiveness, predictability and coherence of ODA. • Develop steps and actions to complete the Doha Round of trade negotiations to reduce existing trade distortions in favour of more equitable mechanisms. • Extend the enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Country (eHIPC) debt relief initiative and other debt relief mechanisms to other developing countries with severe debt distress problems. • Promote regional and global cooperation to enhance food security. • Assist developing countries to ensure sustainable productivity increases and economic diversification. • Form partnerships with civil society, NGOs, the private sector and foundations to develop, in a participatory manner, pro-poor urban and rural development strategies. • Increase funding for research and development of essential drugs to treat tuberculosis, malaria, HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases. • Ensure equitable access to health and education services including additional aid flows in the order of $10.2 billion per year. • Introduce measures to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions. • Improve affordable access to new technologies that enhance development, especially information and communication technologies and those for agriculture and climate change mitigation and adaptation. • Initiate innovative financing mechanisms and partnerships to facilitate technology transfer, research and development in developing economies to achieve the MDGs. • Encourage non-government partners, including the private sector and philanthropic organizations, to sustain funding for MDG projects and programmes. • Work with partners to develop infrastructure and services and promote their integration into the global economy in order to enhance the capacity of enterprises. Footnotes 1. The year 2006 was an unusual year as Venezuela emerged as a major bilateral source of concessionary loans with which to finance physical infrastructure. Of a total of US$532.9 million in bilateral loans, Venezuela accounted for 79.5 per cent. 2. Gov't Increases Access to Anti-Retroviral Drugs KINGSTON (JIS), Monday, May 16, 2005 3. Economic and Social Survey Jamaica 2006 4. Survey of Living Conditions Jamaica, 2004 5. The Jamaica Telecommunications Policy (Draft) 2007 Sources: United Nations. 2008. The Millennium Development Goals Report : Geneva www.ipsnews.net (Accessed 10 December 2008) End Poverty Millenium Development Goals 2015, UN Department of Public Information, Sept 2008 (Accessed 5 January 2009) United Nations. 2008. MDG Gap Task Force Report 2008. Mr Adlai Davids is a senior research manager in the Social Aspects of HIV/AIDS and Health (SAHA) research programme of the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) in South Africa. Sustainable Development Events World Biofuels Markets - Where the biofuels world meets to do business Brussels, Belgium March 1, 2009 28th Session of the FAO Committee on Fisheries Rome, Italy March 2, 2009 to March 6 2009 International Scientific Congress on Climate Change: Global Risks, Challenges and Decisions Copenhagen, Denmark March 10, 2009 to March 12, 2009 For details on these and other conferences visit: http://www.sdgateway.net/events/,
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