For achieving ‘millennium development goals’, methods and modalities should be developed for developing nations by refurbishing, revamping and rejuvenating the health care infrastructure for the languishing population in deprived regions of Africa, and South-East Asian region, including India. Amongst the socio- economically deprived, an early age of marriage and pregnancy and thereafter incessant childbearing, breast feeding, etc, does takes it toll on a mother who barely manages all this without sufficient time or proper intervals to recoup her health. Malnutrition, pollution, poor hygiene and sanitation etc, compounds the adverse effects. Children born under such conditions are likewise deprived of better health and nutrition, right since inception, unlike their counterparts from the middle and upper socio -economic classes.

Worse of all, resources generated and allocated for dealing with a specified population soon falls short, both in terms of quantity and quality, usually as a consequence of unrestrained population explosion, with every family usually having four to five children in its fold. Burgeoning population is probably one of the root causes for being unable to achieve the ‘millennium development goals’. For example, health facilities, food, other resources and facilities, meant for lets say 50 persons is soon expected to serve double that number or more. These figures just keep mounting, ultimately overwhelming the resources/facilities, causing disappointment and failure, which is easily avoidable by population control along with rejuvenation of the health care infrastructure.
Family planning measures per say have not been able to produce desired results for the poor communities and the downtrodden, where they are needed the most. Ignorance, non-availability of timely guidance and help, desire to produce a male offspring, and often the need to get as many helping hands, which can be as early as when they are just 5 to 6 years old (by providing ‘nanny’ support to the younger siblings and 2 to 3 years later by helping their parent’s in their vocation or can go out to work for supplementation of the earnings), are perhaps the other leading causes of population explosion needing urgent attention. Health infrastructure for the poor and destitute needs overhauling and rejuvenation. Earmarked zones and teams may be formed, and reinforced if needed. Such teams can be entrusted with provision of maternal and child health care, dispensing free medicines, advertising benefits of family planning and small family norms, while also ensuring compliance of free health check-ups. Population control should be the emphasis. Pollution control, hygiene and sanitation, etc, can also be incorporated in their agenda. Additional properly motivated (and accountable) mobile medical teams can be employed to visit such areas which have a low health seeking pattern/behaviour.

If possibly school education can be made compulsory (absolutely free, along with mid-day meals) for their children when they are five years old, it shall have two cherished outcomes. First and foremost, parents would probably then realize and take home the message that their children would no longer be able to supplement their earnings, unlike what is normally the present trend where most children of the low socio-economic class are sent off by their parents to earn at a tender age of 8 or 10 years at the most. Moreover the factor that their children would continue eating away into their earnings till they are mature enough and would also no longer be able to provide ‘nanny support’ to younger siblings left at home, will probably help push them voluntarily towards adopting family planning measures and make them more responsible. The second definite outcome would be of getting educated generation of the underprivileged as well, who can be a great asset for a community or a nation. They in turn would be our ‘second messengers’, and can help in achieving and sustaining the ‘millennium development goals’.

The Governments of India and the Government of Guyana have already implemented the project on compulsory education of children and banning of child labor. Let us hope that the millennium development goals are achieved, and in this, we all must contribute, as the ultimate goal is to improve the overall conditions of mankind.

Reference:

(1) Chauhan R et al. Re: Towards achieving the "Millennium Development Goals". BMJ 2 December 2006. http://www.bmj.com/cgi/eletters/331/7517/585?ehom#150358

(2) Chauhan R. Towards achieving the "Millennium Development Goals" BMJ 1 October 2005. http://www.bmj.com/cgi/eletters/331/7517/585?ehom#118148

(3) India: The Times of India: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1849466.cms

(4) India: The Hindustan Times: http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1761899,00300006.htm

(5) India: The Hindu Business Line:
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/08/03/stories/2006080300211000.htm

(6) Guyana: Stabroek News: http://www.stabroeknews.com/index.pl/article_general_news?id=43311947