Are we on track with MDGS?

Are we on track with MDGS?
Source: Solomon Star News
WEDNESDAY, 22 JUNE 2011
http://www.solomonstarnews.com/viewpoint/letters-to-the-editor/11210-are-we-on-track-with-mdgs
 

Dear Editor - The recent announcement by the Solomon Islands Government on target to achieving its MDGs is perhaps too ambitious and to a certain extent, misleading to citizens of this country. 

I do not think the NCRA Government will achieve the MDGs come 2015.

Whilst data may show more children are going to school; this does not include children with disabilities.

The NCRA government does not have any inclusive education policies or the budget. The previous government (CNURA) embarked on developing an inclusive policy and should be carried on by the current government.

According to WHO, 10% of a country’s population have some form of disability?

In our case we are looking at about fifty- one thousand five hundred people with disabilities and counting.  Not addressing our issues and concerns is not an option any sane government will take.

Not much POVERTY? In the Pacific Education Development Framework (2009), Solomon Islands was listed as one country which has high percentage of poverty; it is probably worse now?

If there is no poverty, why do we have children walking around towns picking bottles from rubbish bin who should be at school?; people are begging outside shops and sleeping in public places; there is very high level of unemployment and failure to fix this will increase poverty. People have no access to clean water and sanitation; there are no women in parliament; and hard working women permanent secretaries are being thrown out by the current government; environmental sustainability is fragile; access to basic health services is limited; corruption is rife in our society.

How can this government be on track with the MDGs?

Poverty is rampant in Solomon Islands; anyone who disagrees is either very rich or down right ignorant of the daily struggles of thousands of people and families.

People are resorting to whatever means they can to survive and put food on the table for their children.

If leaders fail to admit or see that poverty is a growing problem, then we are doomed! People with disabilities are also the poorest of the poor.

The economic and social costs of disability in this case is difficult to gauge due to no data but when poor families have extra costs for a family member with disability, she/he is bound to be severely discriminated or abused every day.

Not tackling these costs early could be disastrous for our developing nation.

This government must address poverty. I would like to urge the donor agencies who have come to assist Solomon Islands meet its development challenges to also look at existing socio-economic problems that have been neglected but nevertheless growing at preposterous rate.

God bless Solomon Islands!

Savina Nongebatu
Honiara