Topic: Healthcare as a Human Right
Country: Madagascar
Delegate Name: Ben Goldberg
School: Roeper School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Madagascar position papers GLIMUN 2012 committees
Healthcare is a major issue in Madagascar. The problem is that Madagascar has a very low debt, about 5% of GDP (Gross Domestic Product) in attempting to meet IMF (International Monetary Fund) loan requirements. To comply with IMF debt requirements Madagascar has made significant governmental cuts to social welfare programs, including healthcare. Since we have been strongly advised to keep our debt low, the government of Madagascar has limited ability to provide sufficient healthcare for its citizens. As a result, currently providing healthcare as a human right is very problematic.
To provide basic healthcare for the greatest amount of citizen at the lowest cost, Madagascar needs to call upon the assistance of developed countries in conjunction with support from the WHO (World Health Organization) and influential NGO’s (Non-Governmental Organization). The areas that Madagascar needs support to provide the greatest benefit to its citizens would be assistance with infant and maternal care, infectious disease control and vaccinations. The specific diseases to control and vaccinate against where appropriate would be Malaria, Dengue Fever, Tuberculosis, and HIV.
Most African countries are in a similar situation as Madagascar. Few nations can afford sufficient healthcare due to international lending bodies’ debt requirements. Other African countries such as Sudan, South Sudan and Ethiopia might not have the same issue with affording healthcare but they cannot supply it to the countries citizens due to their general lack of wealth. Madagascar, these and other African and LED (Lesser Economically Developed) nations share the same interests in giving their citizens healthcare. We are concerned about disease spreading and what is already big issue becoming a bigger one. These countries need aid from developed countries in order to obtain healthcare and prevent common diseases throughout the country.
Madagascar is willing to work with all nations to find a solution to this problem of “Healthcare as a Human Right”. We feel this is one of the most pressing issue for developing countries today and strongly hope we can make progress on this pressing issue.
