Blog 8: Argentina

Hello everyone and welcome to my last blog post of the semester!

 This week I am focusing on Argentina. Argentina is located southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Chile and Uruguay (CIA, 2018). They have a total population of about 44 million with a life expectancy of 74 years of age for males and 80 years for females (CIA, 2018). Even though men usually have a lower life expectancy, I did not imagine Argentina’s to be so drastic from the female’s life expectancy. Argentina is a developing country and even though is ranks higher than the vast majority of non-developed countries, it still has much improving to do. 

To reiterate one last time SDG 3 is to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all ages. According to the CIPPEC, progress has been made in Argentina in increasing life expectancy (CIPPEC, 2017). Their improvements and priorities involving SDG 3 include preventing evitable deaths, diseases and improving well-being for all (CIPPEC, 2017). Their maternal mortality rates are still needing a lot of attention, for they failed to comply with the MDG that called for a significant reduction in the maternal mortality rate. In 2015, 3.9 died per 10,000 live births (CIPPEC, 2017). During this research, I was surprised to read that 99.5% of births occurred in official health centers, which to them exposes a high degree of institutionalized deliveries (Social Watch, 2016). I was not sure why this was so emphasized and highlighted, but they are a developing country and this issue is still a working progress. By 2030, Argentina hopes to reduce numbers to 1.3 in 2020 and 1 death in 2030 (CIPPEC, 2017). 

With some diseases on the rise, it is important to make sure that everyone is vaccinated. National Program of Vaccine-preventable Diseases was designed to achieve 95% vaccine immunization across the whole country of Argentina (CIPPEC, 2017). The AUH and the Universal Pregnancy Allowance (AUE, its acronym in Spanish) have played a role in improving children wellbeing, as a part of providing proof of annual health checks and compulsory vaccinations (CIPPEC, 2017). In Argentina, the State provides universal healthcare coverage and there is a high share of the population that resorts to alternative healthcare providers (Social, watch, 2016). Argentina still has a long way to go when compared to other countries like the Unites States. From the research I have conducted, I concluded that they are on the right track and setting goals that are attainable. Of course, with them still being a developing country, they still have long ways to go. I cannot wait to follow up in 2030 to see if these SDG goals were met for all 8 countries!

Thank you all for reading my blogs! I had a great time researching and learning about all of these different countries!

References

Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). (2018). The World Fact book: Argentina. Retrieved from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ar.html

CIPPEC. (2017). Sustainable Development Goals and Early Childhood in Argentina: Gaps and priority actions to leave no one behind. [PDF]. Retrieved fromhttps://www.cippec.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/SDGs-DT_2017.07.17_Final2.pdf

Social Watch. (2016.). Can Argentina Meet the 2030 Agenda SDGs? Retrieved from http://www.socialwatch.org/node/17383