KEY POINTS:
Samoa is vulnerable to poverty says United Nations Resident Coordinator in Samoa however Ms. Naheed Haque believes there is no-one who is currently in poverty.
Although Ms. Haque does believe there is poverty of opportunity in Samoa, this includes lack of education and lack of knowledge.
"To eradicate extreme poverty and hunger" is the first of eight goals set out by the United Nations in 2000, Samoa is currently "on target" to achieving this goal states the Multi Country Programme Document prepared by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
Poverty is one of the main issues that concerns the United Nations across the world and in September 2000, 189 United Nation's (UN) Member States signed a Millennium
Declaration that consisted of eight Millennium Development Goals (MDG's).
Ms. Haque says, "Samoa is blessed because they are able to live off the land, they have natures bounty, culture and a real sense of family."
Samoans are lucky to have a social safety net says Ms. Haque.
The report also states that the Samoan economy is among the better performing in the Pacific because of its good progress towards the MDGs especially MDG one.
According to Ms. Haque all of the MDG's relate in different ways, the second of the MDG's, to "achieve universal primary education", relates to Ms. Haque mentioning Samoa has poverty of education.
Samoa can potentially achieve the goal of primary education says the UNDP report but there are still a lot of children not going to school.
Ms. Haque believes education is also about making the right choices.
"Education includes proper awareness of what to eat and the importance of exercising."
"It is also about how to become self-employed, youth cannot rely on the government to give them jobs," explains Ms Haque, she continues by giving an example of what you can do withouot proper schooling but the right knowledge, "look at Bill Gates he dropped out of Harvard began a software company in his garage and went on to become a billionaire."
"We need to simulate the discussion on education."
Ms. Haque wants to concentrate on the youth, "because they are our future leaders."
It is Ms. Haque's dream to inspire Samoan's to gain a higher education, pick up new skills and seek new career paths.
Samoa is also potentially on the way to achieving MDG number three to "promote gender equality and empower women."
Samoa currently has four women in Parliament which is higher than a lot of the other Pacific Islands.
The UN report also states that Samoa has already achieved MDG's numbers four and five.
"Reduce child mortality" and "Improve maternal health".
Ms. Haque believes this is because of the culture in Samoa.
"Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases", is MDG number six, which is "on target".
"HIV/AIDS are not major problems in Samoa," explains Ms Haque, "but we have to be very careful in order to keep it that way so it doesn't become an epidemic."
Diseases that are currently hitting Samoa are Dangue Fever, "we need to deal with the mosquito problem."
"Real problems are diabetes, heart attacks and obesity."
Ms. Haque says that MDG six relates to MDG two because without education on food and exercise we are creating these problems of obesity that turn into greater problems such as high blood pressure and cholesterol.
MDG eight also has potential to be achieved by the year 2015 this is to "develop a global partnership for development".
This has been shown by the continuing financial support from AusAID and NZAID and also during the construction of the South Pacific Games facilities of which the Chinese government has contributed a great amount.
Ms. Haque says it is not just about overseas partnerships, it also includes the business community.
"Not about profit," explains Ms. Haque, "it is what you give and how fairly you treat people."
It is about a "strategic partnership" with the consumers.
The final and only MDG whose achievement by 2015 is in doubt is "ensure environmental sustainability".
Samoa, like other Pacific Nations, is prone to cyclonic winds and Ms. Haque says we need to begin to protect our environment.
This means not destroying the mangroves that protect our shorelines, putting our rubbish in bins and protecting the wildlife for example not stealing the turtle eggs.
Ms. Naheed Haque believes Samoa will achieve all but one MDG by 2015, which is the target date.
Compared to the rest of the Pacific Samoa is doing very well.
"Samoa is on track to achieve all of the United Nation's Millennium Development Goals."
The MDG's are goals set out but the United Nations, where in September 2000, 189 United Nations Member States signed agreed to and signed the Millennium Declaration.
The MDG's are "about people and human development and aim to improve quality of life through expanded opportunities to develop," states the declaration.
The UN in Samoa will continue its help in reaching these goals.
- NEWSLINE
