World leaders fail to deliver for Africa's children
As the G8 summit comes to a close, the progress for Africa expected by the public has not been delivered.
Saturday 9 June 2007
At the halfway point of the Millennium Development Goals, world leaders have let the goal of halving world poverty by 2015 slip out of reach. Key pledges such as backing free healthcare and strengthening health systems in Africa have been watered down, and the deal on HIV and AIDS is still not making treatment universal as promised. Aid pledges have only been reaffirmed.
Matt Phillips from Save the Children said:
"The G8 leaders have not delivered a concrete plan for tackling the crushing levels of African poverty. Today's deal was warm in words but that's cold comfort for the millions of African children who will continue to die through the lack of free healthcare. This is a particular blow to the hundreds of thousands of campaigners who are calling for dramatic action. The campaigning will go on. Tony Blair's legacy on Africa will not live up to expectation. Gordon Brown must now make getting a concrete deal on poverty between Europe and Africa the top priority for his first 100 days in office."
The high expectations of Chancellor Merkel's strong plan to improve health in Africa, by ensuring that there are enough doctors, nurses, clinics and drugs, have not been met. Leaders have scratched out an agreement that just about recovers Gleneagles and that was far short of what campaigners have demanded.
Matt Phillips added:
"Angela Merkel, like Tony Blair before her, deserves great credit for putting Africa and climate at the top of the global agenda and for pushing for progress so hard, particularly on African health services. They should not be put off by the lack of real progress at this summit and should keep responding to the clear public mandate for dramatic not piecemeal action."
What's happened at the G8
- Health - Angela Merkel had put healthcare in Africa as a top priority. The G8 stepped up efforts to support Africa to strengthen its health systems, including the health workforce, and have also made some progress on treatment for HIV and AIDS. However, no concrete plans or financial commitments have been made to support African health systems, and Africa's own Health Strategy remains ignored.
- Aid - the G8's reaffirmations of aid commitments from Gleneagles was welcome but given the struggle to achieve this, the lack of binding interim targets is of serious concern. For the goal of halving world poverty by 2015 to be remotely a reality, concrete commitments are essential.
- Education - the G8 have concentrated on reaffirming existing commitments on education which is positive but not a big leap forward. The recognition of fragile states is good as they are critical and previously ignored part of achieving education for all.
