Poverty and The Millennium Development Goals

by: Brenda Lyn Babao

A great many of us are aware that we are not living like kings in the ancient times who live with all the luxuries that an affluent life can offer. This social problem extends globally. Poverty is a major problem which a lot other countries in the whole world are also facing. What is poverty? Why do we need to solve this issue? Poverty is hunger. Poverty is lack of shelter. Poverty is being sick and not being able to see a doctor. Poverty is not having access to school and not knowing how to read. Poverty is not having a job, is fear for the future, living one day at a time. Poverty is losing a child to illness brought about by unclean water. Poverty is powerlessness, lack of representation and freedom.

The United Nations realize the importance of solving this crucial problem. In September 2000, one hundred and eighty-nine UN member-countries, rich and poor alike, reaffirmed their commitment to peace and security, good governance, and the dedication to change the world so that many more may have enough to eat adequate shelter, access to education and health, and protection from violence. The Millennium Development Goals are a set of eight time-bound, concrete and specific targets aimed at significantly eradicating poverty by the year 2015. These targets include eradicating extreme poverty and hunger, achieving universal primary education, promoting gender equality and empowering women, reducing child mortality, improving maternal health, combating HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases, ensuring environmental sustainability, and developing global partnerships for development.

To know what helps to reduce poverty, what works and what does not, what changes over time, poverty has to be defined, measured, and studied -- and even experienced. As poverty has many dimensions, it has to be looked at through a variety of indicators -- levels of income and consumption, social indicators, and indicators of vulnerability to risks and of socio/political access.

Since the Philippines first resolved to adopt the MDGs, it has made encouraging strides, particularly towards the attainment of targets on reducing extreme poverty; child mortality; the incidence of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria; on improving gender equality in education; and improving households' adequate dietary intake as well as access to safe drinking water.

Attainment of these targets is a two-way process. It involves dual cooperation between the developing countries and those which are already developed. These targets are difficult to achieve. They are not one of those tasks which we can be accomplished overnight. Achievement of the MDG's requires rising above current trends and substantially accelerating progress . Both the developed and the developing countries need to scale up action. Each target is interconnected with the other. Whatever may good for one goal but not for another should not be employed. We don't dream merely of becoming developed but rather, we should be more driven to sustainable development.

However, whatever may be the methods each country shall employ in order to achieve these goals, every method should be for sustainable development. It will serve no purpose if we can eradicate poverty by the year 2015 and yet we will have nothing left for the next generation to enjoy but a totally devastated environment. The best legacy we can leave behind for the future generation is a place that is free of worries. A place that they will enjoy together with their own families. What we do today will help create a promising future. A generation where almost if not all are able to enjoy the joys in a classroom, the laughter of the youth, and the happiness of a family who can well take care of every member and sustain their needs to enjoy life in a clean and healthy environment.