The 2008 - 2009 Human Development Report shows progress in some areas of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) while others still leave much to desire.

According to the report presented to the public last week, the country has made progress in three of the MDGs while the other five are still subject to worry. There is improvement in education as the school going rate has moved from 76.3 per cent in the 1990s to 82.8 per cent in 2009. There is also improvement in gender balance as much has been done to step up the feminine population in schools which represented 41 per cent in 2005/2006.

However, much still remains undone in the domains of child mortality, fight against poverty and diseases, among others. According to the United Nations Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in the country, Thierry Mertens, Cameroon could do better. "I think that Cameroon is working towards attaining the MDGs", he said, adding that the launching of the report was to call on everyone to contribute to the last stretch to meet and achieve the MDGs.

Placed under the theme, Challenges of Realising the MDGs, the 21-page report gave recommendations which government could integrate in its development policies. It stressed, among others, on the need to integrate all and sundry in government's efforts to ensure sustainable development, improve the investment climate as well as ensure a proper implementation and follow up of the Employment and Growth Strategy Paper.

With visible signs of growth after the tumultuous 2009, marked by the global economic slowdown, a strong determination especially with orientation from development partners, could catapult the country's development to boom. This would certainly require love for fatherland where national interests supersedes personal gains, integration of all who can contribute their quota and courage from the administrators who must strive to leave old habits and adapt to changes and recommendations that can move the country's development forward.

Brenda YUFEH