120907southamericanewsreports1

Haiti: Highest rates of child and maternal deaths

Invest in key sectors to reduce poverty, says report

The United Nations Economic and Social Council [ECOSOC] has called for investment in tourism, agriculture and the textile and assembly industry to strengthen Haiti’s economy and to promote stability. The investment would help to combat high levels of poverty in the country which has the highest child and maternal mortality in the western hemisphere.

In a recent report to ECOSOC by the Ad Hoc Advisory Group, headed by representatives from Canada, Benin, Brazil, Chile, Haiti, Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, the paper called for public institutions to be strengthened so that Haiti can make the best use of major contributions announced by donor countries in recent months. If not, Haiti will not reach any of its 2015 millennium development goals on poverty reduction, and makes clear that continued international support is needed if progress is to be made.

On a positive note, the Ad Hoc Advisory Group did cite progress with greater political stability and improved security. It also recommends that a national poverty reduction strategy be adopted and calls for co–ordination between donors and the Haitian Government as well as a system to track the disbursement of pledge funds.

For further information visit the United Nations website at: www.un.org.

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