“Cure the sore throat, save the heart.” This was the slogan that banners in some of Asmara’s main streets have been pronouncing over the past week.

Posters addressing the same cause have also been affixed to walls and billboards across the city. They call on children to inform parents instantly whenever their throats hurt.

In an effort to draw attention to the cause, a students’ mass run was also held in the early morning of Saturday October 25, 2008.

According to the message from the Ministry of Health, early treatment of throat diseases like tonsillitis and other infections, particularly in children, avoids severe heart problems.

Health care is and has always been a government priority. And I think there is no better evidence than the fact that Eritrea has been chosen to represent the black continent at the International Conference on Basic Health Care in Alma Ata city, Kazakhstan earlier this month.

In an informal interview with Shaebia website, Mr. Saleh Meki, the Minister of Health, had disclosed that Eritrea was commended for showing progress in basic health care in just a short time since independence.

He told Shaebia that the main reason why Eritrea was presenting a paper on behalf of Africa was that it had scored major achievement particularly in reducing child and mother mortality rate, in addition to controlling the spread of HIV/AIDS.

By presenting that paper, Eritrea would thus share its success story with other countries.

In fact, statistical reports from the Ministry of Health show, infant mortality has dropped from 81 out of 1000 children in 1991 to less than 40 at present; mother mortality declined from 1,400 out of 100,000 to 450; and HIV/AIDS infection fell from 4.2% in 1999 to 1.28%. The average life expectancy has also risen from 49 years to 63.

Eritrea’s relentless efforts in the health sector have thus won praise and laudation from ministers of several countries and heads of international organizations, including the Directors of UNICEF and WHO.