Editor,

RE: "Assessing the SDGs one year down the road (Part 1)” (The New Times, September 9).

I am happy to congratulate Rwanda for its achievements under the MDGs and progress toward SDGs.

I am a doctor that 15 years ago was very frustrated by the lack to access to quality care and the number of preventable deaths. I was frustrated because, as a doctor, I knew how to prevent and treat most of what was causing these deaths: malaria, TB, HIV/AIDS, lack of immunisation, and I know how to deliver quality maternal and child care, and all primary healthcare services consistently and efficiently.

Then, I embraced the MDGs because they would make these preventable deaths history in my lifetime.

I also reoriented my work to support the MDGs because I know that the lack of access to timely prevention and treatment affects mostly the poor and I know that having a health system that is efficient and runs according to standard operating procedures making the best of medical knowledge is what works to ensure preventable deaths are really prevented.

It is the smart way to realise the right to health of every human being. And for that reason, in 2016, I applaud Rwanda’s progress towards building an efficient health system and expanding access to quality health care to all. It shows that a country does not have to be rich to be smart, make efficient use of its resources and do what is best for all its citizens.

I hope the UN follows the Rwandan example and its agencies learn from our Rwandan colleagues. It is time they support MDGs and SDGs, making smart and efficient use of their resources.

Elvira Beracochea