NA monitors government goals

 Souksakhone Vaenkeo

The government needs to work harder if it wants to achieve the goals it agreed on with the National Assembly (NA) and the UN millennium development goals, NA members have said.

Deputy Head of the NA’s Social and Culture  Commission Professor Dr Phonthep Pholsena raised concerns as to the slow progress being made on malnutrition and child and maternal mortality rates while speaking at a four-day NA seminar held last week in Savannakhet province.

At the seminar, which is part of preparations for the eighth ordinary session of the NA to be held at the end of this year, gender equality and balanced development between rural and urban areas were also contentious issues and topped NA members’ concerns.

Dr Phonthep said the country’s economy has been growing steadily, but progress on malnutrition in some communities has been slow.

The NA approved targets at its seventh ordinary session this year requiring the government to reduce the malnutrition rate of children under five years old from 40 percent to 37 percent by 2010. He assured his audience that the parliamentarians will keep a closer eye on the issue.

“If the figure fails to meet that target then that means the government has failed to fulfill the commitment given to the NA,” he said.

It is obvious that the government will find it difficult to pursue the MDG to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger when the malnutrition rate is still so high.

Dr Phonthep said the period from birth to five years of age is vitally important for brain development in children and if they are malnourished during this period it would seriously impact both their mental and physical development.

To graduate from poverty and lift the nation from least-developed country status by 2020 means Laos needs a well educated population. But a significant part of the current younger generation is under threat.

Dr Phonthep said to achieve the goals there is a strong need to address this vital issue to help the younger generation as they are indicators of the country’s achievements.

The country’s malnutrition, maternal and child mortality rate is still too high compared to other countries in the region. These issues are among the eight MDGs demanded of the government to be achieved by 2015.

Dr Phonthep believed experiences shared through discussion at the seminar would help increase awareness of these issues in NA members and lift their role in following up and monitoring the government’s work. It would also contribute to better debate at the upcoming ordinary session.

Experts and economists from other countries as well as government organisations were also invited to share their ideas on various topics including the economic development prospects for Laos.

During the seminar, NA members’ concerns regarding gender equality were also raised. The government was told to work to make sure women equally benefited from the country’s economic development.

The parliamentarians said that the number of female politicians and female government officials was still low, especially at the local level.

The government was told to plan appropriate mechanisms to ensure gender equality and incorporate them in its 7th National Socio-Economic Development Plan (2011-2015). 

Rural developers urged the NA members and the government to discuss and seek appropriate ways to encourage and balance economic development between rural and urban areas.

This should ensure rural people would benefit from the country’s economic development and state revenue is distributed for the benefit of the poor.