Permanent Mission of the United Republic of Tanzania to the United Nations

Transcription

1 Permanent Mission of the United Republic of Tanzania to the United Nations CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY STATEMENT BY HON. MIZENGO P. PlNDA PRIME MINISTER OF THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANlA ATTHE HIGH LEVEL SUMMIT ON THE MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS MONDAY, 2oTH SEPTEMBER East 42nd Street, Room 1700, New York, New York Tel. No. (212)

2 STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER OF THE UNITED REPDLHC OF TANZANIA, HONOURABLE MIZENGO F. PINDA, AT THE HIGH LEVEL SUMMIT ON THE MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS (MDGs), NEW YORK, 20 SEPTEMBER 2010 Your Excellency the President of the General Assembly, Your Excellency, the Secretary General of the United Nations, Excellencies Heads of Delegations; Much has happened in National, Regonal and Global efforts to rid the World we share of abject and unconscionable poverty and to bring decency in the livelihood of all our fellow human beings. We are here to recogruze progress achieved, and celebrate the valuable partnerships and experiences that brought us h far, and which should now form the bedrock of renewed efforts as we seek to accelerate progress based on lessons learned.

3 It is true, much remains to be done in the remaining five years to the target date of 2015, but we cannot afford to be discouraged. It is true that progress has been uneven and some of the targets will not be met unless efforts are sigruhcantly stepped up. But it is also true that the strength and resilience of the human spirit, 3 fully harnessed can make the impossible possible and the difficulty ones easy. This meeting therefore provides us with the oppobty to rea irm our commitments and galvanize needed support at all levels to ensure that all MDGs are met in all Regions of the World by My Government believes that the United Nations is best placed to coordinate and track global commitments and efforts to ensure

4 the achievement of the MDGs, in particular those that are lagging behind. We welcome and support the UN Strategy on Women's and Children's Health and commend the Secretary General for his vision and leadership in the development of this Strategy. Partnerships lie at the core of successes achieved and will determine the level of success we will achieve. These include Bilateral and Regonal Partnerships between Developed and Developing Countries, as well as between Developing Countries themselves. They include the United Nations System as well as partnerships with the Corporate World and Civil Society. Without such partnerships, there is little hope. Let us reaffirm them.

5 The United Republic of Tanzania reaffirms its cornrnitment to achieve MDGs. The conducive policies, as well as Economic and - Governance Reforms undertaken, have spurred economic growth averaging 7.0 percent over the past decade, but this is not enough to achieve all MDGs. They will need to be strengthened further. Poverty as measured by the proportion of population below one dollar a day has declined from 38.6 percent in to 33.6 in 2006/2007 for Tanzania mainland and from 61 percent in 1990 to 49 percent in 2004 for Zanzibar. This decrease is not gving us much hope.

6 In Tanzania, more than 80 percent of the entire population which is estimated to be 40 million live in rural areas. The 80 percent depends on Agridture for their livelihoods. Lf we are to emancipate most Tanzanians form poverty, investments in agriculture is imperative. In realizing this fad, the Government has embarked in a comprehensive Agriculture First Initiative, popularly known as Icilimo Kwanza with the aim of accelerating green revolution. The I(ilimo Kwanza Initiative comprises of training of agriculture Extension Officers; investing in irrigation infrastructural systems, mechanization ie. the use of modem technologies including ago-processing; the use inputs such as improved seeds, fertilizers, pesticides and insecticides. Fwthermore, the initiative aims at addressing the critical problem of agricultural financing.

7 In order to realize these objectives, the Government has continue to increase its budget allocation to agricultural sector as well as taking measures to improve the Agriculture Marketing systems. For the Government to realize the ambitious goals enshrined in the Kilimo Icwanza Initiative, we appeal to the UN Institutions, the International Community, the Private Sector and other Development Partners to support our efforts. Given the timely and predictable support, Tanzania will undoubtedly realize MDG Number One as we have managed to do so in MDG Number Two. HIV prevalence rates have declined from 7.0 percent in 2003 to 5.7 percent in 2008 in the Mainland Tanzania. We are pleased that in Zanzibar the rate has remained at 0.6 percent.

8 Zanzibar has done very well on the issue of malaria. The prevalence of malaria shows a drastic decreasing trend from 49.2 percent in 2000 to 0.8 percent in This outstanding performance puts Zanzibar in the pre-elimination phase. The challenge is to hold onto this achievement and ensure that Zanzibar is totally free from malaria as well as replicating these measures in Madand Tanzania. The achievements in Zanzibar is a result of key cost effective interventions for prevention (Insecticide treated Nets, Indoor Residual Spraying and Intermittent Preventive treatment in pregnancy) and case management with effective drugs In the area of child mortality, we have made little progress. Between 1990 and 1999, there was an 11 percent reduction in under-five mortality rates from 165 per thousand live births

9 Page 19 I l I t-- I Achievements in ddd health are attributed to health sector reforms, increased coverage of effective interventions; 1 i i immunization, Vitamin A supplementation, Integrated Management of Childhood illness, improved malaria control through Insecticide Treated Nets and access to effective anti- malarial treatment We have done well on the Education Targets. In 1990, the net enrolment ratio (NER) in primary education was 54.2 percent for Mainland Tanzania and 50.9 percent for Zanzibar. In 2000, the rates went up to 57.1 percent for Mainland Tanzania and to 67 percent for Zanzibar. In 2006, the ratio increased to 94.8 percent for Mainland Tanzania and 77 percent for

10 Zanzibar. The net enrolment Ratio continued to increase reaching 95.4 percent in We realised all these by putting in place good policies, budgetary increase, implementation of comprehensive education programmes and the use of participatory approach which allow people to be on the driver's seat. These factors have made it possible for Government to expand capacities to recruit more teachers, increased education material and classrooms.

11 In spite of these achievements, there remain bottlenecks such as insufficient hurnan and financial resources and school dropouts. However, the country is on track to meet the target of 100 percent net enrolment by We are committed to do all in our power to accelerate the implementation of the remaining MDGs in the next five years. We will strive to do much on our own, including focusing on Economic Growth and sustainable development. But to succeed we count sigruficantly on similarly renewed and expanded corruniiment on the part of our Development Partners.

12 Page 112 We know what works in achieving the MDGs. With the requisite leadership, partnership, commitment and resources we have the oppowty to keep the Millennim promise to the World's people. Let's not fail them. % thank you for your attention.