Comparison Between Hungary and Liberia

Comparison Between Hungary and Liberia

A side by side look at the Millennium Goals

Eradicate Extreme Poverty and Hunger

• The first and therefore primary goal of the U.N. is to ensure the population of the world has not only adequate food, but adequate resources to ensure that pursuit of happiness and purpose is maintained. This allows a community to grow and develop, producing other contributors to the society, maximizing growth. The goal is to reduce global poverty by half.

Eradicate Extreme Poverty and Hunger

Hungary LiberiaHunger is becoming less and less of an issue in Hungary, with more and more programs to help those who are struggling with food and housing. There are several “halfway homes” that provide cheap housing and food in each city. The Roma, or Gypsy population however, is still struggling to establish a firm foot hold in middle class to upper class establishments.

Poverty is on the decline but not at an appreciable rate to reach MDG targets by 2015. The 2007 Core Welfare Indicator (CWI) questionnaire shows poverty declined over the period of 2000-2007, placing the number of people living on welfare on less than 1 dollar a day at 63.8% of the total population.

Achieve Universal Primary Education

• By ensuring the populous of the communities involved with the Millennial Goals are well educated, a future of more creative thought and more willingness to cooperate on a global scale is preserved. By 2015 the goal is to secure a primary education for boys and girls everywhere. The world is well on track to achieving this goal.

Achieve Universal Primary Education

Hungary LiberiaBased on the increasing enrollment and subsequent graduation of many youth in Hungary, my country is one of the more compliant nations where education is less of an issue. This is evident when one considers that Hungary has the most Nobel Peace Prize winners per capita than any nation on earth.

In Liberia, there is free and compulsory primary education supported by significant grants. There has been a 12% point increase from 2007-2008 according to the National School Census of the Ministry of Education. However, the level of increase is insufficient to reach the goal of universal primary education by 2015.

Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women

• Gender equality is essential for any country to develop a sense of creativity and true freedom. By drawing attention to the problem of gender inequality, these nations set themselves up for greater leaps in development. The goal is to eliminate gender disparity in all levels of education by 2015.

Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women

Hungary LiberiaHungary has historically been dominated by a more Western approach where civil issues are concerned. Women have always been accepted as an integral part of society, but have been labeled with certain gender roles which hindered progression. However, more modern times encouraged Hungary with the rest of Europe to do away with these archaic ideas.

Although the number of women in higher positions has increased over the years, Liberia is still far from achieving full gender equality and women empowerment. Liberians have little or no education with females being less educated than males. 42% of the women in Liberia have not attended schools.

Reduce Child Mortality

• Obviously ensuring a countries growth and subsequent development into a more productive state begins with its children. Reducing by 2/3s the under 5 mortality rate will propel a nation to its full potential. Between 1990 and 2012 17,000 fewer children are dying each day. Children born into poverty are more than twice as likely to die before the age of 5 than in wealthier families.

Reduce Child Mortality

Hungary LiberiaAgain, Hungary has been more blessed than most countries with its leaps in medicine and welfare. In 2009, there were 6.3 deaths per 1000 which stands as a stark change from the 1990 demographic of 17.2 child deaths per 1000.

Due to the poor health system and service delivery, Liberia won’t reach the target goal in 2015. Poor infrastructure, service, and managerial capacity and access are obstacles to success in this regard.

Improve Maternal Health

• It is said of society “You can tell how well a country is functioning by the way they treat their women.” Reducing by 3/4s the maternal mortality ratio will significantly reflect a more positive environment to raise children, the future contributors and leaders of society. Maternal mortality has been halved since 1990. All regions around the world have made progress, but accelerated interventions will be needed to reach this target goal.

Improve Maternal Health

Hungary LiberiaThere has been a dramatic decrease in maternal death in child bearing. This is due largely to a more western approach to medicine, but more socialist inspired hospital treatment plans are still taking their toll, sacrificing adequate care for the bottom line. Hopefully, the Hungarian economy will be sufficient enough to be able to support such hospitals in the coming years.

Mothers in rural areas, such as the majority in Liberia, are less likely to receive prenatal care by a healthcare provider, give birth while being attended to, and give birth while in a healthcare facility. The adolescent birth rates in rural areas are almost double that in urban areas. Poor infrastructure, urban-rural, and education disparity are key factors in limiting the ability to reduce maternal death.

Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria, and other Diseases

• HIV, or Human Immunodeficiency Virus, is a disease that shuts down the bodies normal defenses to infectious agents. The patient can literally die from the common cold that wouldn’t even phase a healthy individual. The goal of the UN is to reverse the spread of HIV world wide, as well as eradicate or slow the progress of some other deadly diseases.

Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria, and other Diseases

Hungary LiberiaAlthough not as common as in say, most of Africa, HIV in Hungary is still as much a threat as in America. Condom use is expensive in Hungary, and therefore less are used, encouraging the spread of HIV and a more consistent rate than I most western societies. TB however, is on the decline as a fair rate, with fewer than 3 deaths per 100,000 per year.

The most recent report on HIV prevalence done by LDHS in 2007 shows a prevalence rate of 1.5% among people aged 15-49. Even though it is indicated that there’s a low-level, generalized epidemic, the rate of HIV is surprisingly more prevalent in urban areas than it is in rural areas. Malaria, however is the leading cause of out-patient morbidity, accounting for 35% of the total. Tuberculosis case detection for 2009 is 64%.

Ensure Environmental Sustainability

• The primary focus of this goal is to halve the number of people without access to clean drinking water. Obviously our bodies cannot function without water, nor can the environment. Therefore, by increasing access to water, communities will be healthier and more profitable, with fewer preventable deaths.

Ensure Environmental Sustainability

Hungary LiberiaHungary has always been an example of agricultural prowess, and today is no exception. Along with the government helping conserve forested lands, farmers plant forests of tress and brush to help bind the soil, reducing dust storms and increasing fertility. This combination has greatly helped Hungary lurch towards its 2015 goal.

Liberia includes 43% of the Upper Guinea Forest. The current rate of deforestation is a 0.6% which has resulted in 42.7% of forest cover. Factors, such as shifting cultivation, poverty, population pressures, and many more, are threatening forest resources. Experts predict that, without appropriate regulation and deterrents, achievement of 41.2% forest cover will not be reached in 2015.

Global Partnership for Development

• It’s the beauty queen answer: World Peace. Yet this is a real goal of the UN: to eliminate gender and racial discrimination and encourage open trade and economy between countries. The essence of mankind lies within interaction and prosperity, which is exemplified in a Zionist world.

Global Partnership for Development

Hungary LiberiaHungary has never been afraid to open its doors to outside growth and economy. Even now, you can’t go into a city without seeing a McDonalds, Lidl, SPAR, Tesco, or other international corporation. So much so that some of the Hungarian population are starting to worry that there is too much international business. If Hungary should have a goal about international growth, it should be to limit the amount of funds being exported from the country.

Sustainable environmental policies and actions require coordination between and across agencies and policy makers and transparent enforcement of regulations. Among many factors, security concerns surrounding UN Mission in Liberia’s transition make attracting and sustaining development resources a challenge. However, Liberia’s focus on governance, security and the rule of law has formed a strong environment to foster institutions capable of addressing these concerns.

To wrap it up…

• The differences between the countries of Liberia and Hungary are great; one country, still struggling to find a solid foothold in the global market, and the other, with too many limbs in the mouths of predatory and opportunistic nations. Both of which can find common ground in moving forward with balance in mind.