Martin Henry
NOBODY UNDER 50 can remember malaria in Jamaica. Doctors trained at the UWI over the last generation would only have met textbook cases. The disease, still present in scores of countries, was eliminated here in 1963. Many other infectious diseases have been brought under control. Outbreaks of typhoid in Westmoreland a couple of years were unusual and a cause of alarm. The George V Sanatorium was specifically set up to deal with tuberculosis cases. TB has been so reduced that the sanatorium, now the National Chest Hospital, has had to diversify its business to deal with all kinds of lung and chest diseases.
The country has for years had levels of immunisation in the late 90 per cent range, matching First World countries. Malnutrition, and infant and maternal mortality have gone down and life expectancy has gone up. Life expectancy now stands at 75.6 years, a figure exceeded by only about 20 per cent of the 177 countries on the UNDP Human Development Index, 2004. This figure is not matched, much less exceeded, by even one single country in our league of medium human development.
Access to high quality health care at low cost has been greatly improved over years and now taken for granted. We cry endlessly about the state of the education system, and a lot is wrong with it. The National Task Force on Education has just recommended a $50 billion fix. But never before have so many Jamaicans had so many educational opportunities.
The adult literacy rate, according to UNDP data, is 87.6 per cent. The PIOJ says it is 79.9 per cent. Take your pick. Either way it is considerably better than the 50 per cent or so at Independence. Mark you many of our Caribbean neighbours are boasting high 90s literacy rates.
SECONDARY EDUCATION
We don't like the CXC results. But never before have so many Jamaicans have access to secondary education. Norman Man-ley introduced the revolutionary Common Entrance Examination in 1958 to create the grand number of 2,000 free places to high schools!
A black professional middle class has emerged from the ranks of the poor over the last generation largely as a result of greater access to secondary education. Access to post-secondary education has jumped from below 5 per cent only a few years ago to about 18 per cent of cohort. Quite a number of graduates migrate, buttheir certificates are tickets to greener pastures and the Jamaican economy has not grown fast enough to absorb skilled graduates.
NEW POVERTY NOW
WEARS SHOES
Poverty itself has been redefined. People have to be middle-aged to know barefoot, patch clothes, under-nourished and illiterate poverty as the widespread condition. There are small stubborn pockets of old poverty, but new poverty now wears shoes and designer clothes, eats fast food, and sports a cellphone.
Cruising along Highway 2000 in one's own motor vehicle, older people can't help noticing how the road network has been greatly expanded and transport and communication improved. The road network, from a long time one of the most dense in the world, has penetrated deep into the nooks and crannies of rural Jamaica. The utilities have expanded greatly with the spectacular increase of telephone services. The availability of clean piped water is now taken for granted. Electricity is almost everywhere.
There was a time not long ago when middle class professionals were not able to own a motor car. Most of the cars are deportees, they are clogging up the roads, but ordinary people now have access to vehicles. And more access to home ownership.
The conditions of work have been much improved and the rewards are generally better. The old class and race barriers have been considerably lowered and there is certainly greater freedom and opportunity in the society.
When I countered the unrelenting pessimism and started the new year 1996 with a column, "Proud to be Jamaican", I received a nice little note of thanks. It said, "You cannot easily imagine my delighted surprise to read your splendid piece in this morning's Gleaner.
"How brave of you to buck the present national fashion which has elevated denigration to the level of universal culture. Of course, we have immense problems and, of course, we can always do better at everything. But I thank you for remembering that we have come a long way."
The note bore the flourished signature of Michael Manley.
Martin Henry is a communication specialist.
