" (UN Report #101). Do you agree that educational investments in young girls can benefit the entire nation as a whole? .
The Secretary makes a challenge to all Member states to narrow the gender gap in education by 2005 and to ensure that by 2015, all children complete primary education. The next step to generating opportunities for the youth is through employment. Many low growth economies cannot generate sufficient employment opportunities to hire their own young people. This lack of jobs depresses growth and perpetuates poverty. The UN resolution to this is to form a policy network to propose recommendations to alleviate unemployment.
In addition to achieving sustained growth and opportunities for the youth, the citizens of the state must be of sound mind and body. Thus, another factor in obtaining freedom from want is promoting health and combating HIV/AIDS. " Lack of access to basic medical care is one of the main reasons poor people stay poor." (UN Report #113). In most low-income countries, health care spending is often less than $10 per year. Wider access to essential drugs, vaccines and simple cost-effective interventions such as .
insecticide treated bed nets could sharply reduce high mortality and disability rates among poor people. AIDS is a pandemic problem that endangers society's survival. Over 50 million people have been infected with HIV since the early 1970s. Of the 36 million people now living with HIV/AIDS worldwide, 23 million live in sub-Saharan Africa alone. In the worst hit cities, 40 percent of pregnant women are HIV-positive. In Asia, new HIV infection increased 70 percent in two years (1996-1998). The UN wants to stop this global killer through education on safe sex and providing an inexpensive drug that could help infected people live more productive, fulfilling lives.
Another element of discussion in the chapter is upgrading the slums, which presently lack municipal services, such as water, sanitation, waste collection, and server drainage.