WHEN May 20101 |

World Health Editors Network

Progress towardsthe health-related Millennium

Development Goals

World Health Editors Network

Progress towardsthe health-related Millennium

Development Goals

Carla Abou-Zahr, Ties BoermaFiona Gore, Annet Mahanani

Department of Health Statistics and Informatics

Carla Abou-Zahr, Ties BoermaFiona Gore, Annet Mahanani

Department of Health Statistics and Informatics

WHEN May 20102 |

WHO and MDGsWHO and MDGs

The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)

Health-related MDGs

Progress and Challenges

Moving forward

WHEN May 20103 |

In September 2000, 191 heads of state adopted the UN Millennium Declaration and endorsed a framework for development, the plan being for countries and development partners to work together to:– reduce poverty and hunger, and tackle ill health, lack of education, gender

inequality, lack of access to clean water and environmental degradation

Eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) were established, with targets for 2015, and indicators to monitor progress

At the 2008 World Health Assembly, WHO Member States tasked the Organization to provide an annual update on progress towards the health-related MDGs, starting in 2009.

The Millennium Development GoalsThe Millennium Development Goals

WHEN May 20104 |

Health-related MDGsHealth-related MDGs

MDG 1: Target 1C: Halve the proportion of people who suffer from hunger (underweight)

MDG 4: Target 4A: Reduce child mortality by two thirds

MDG 5: Improve maternal health

MDG 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases

MDG 7: Halve the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation

MDG 8, Target 8E: Access to affordable essential medicines in developing countries

WHEN May 20105 |

Progress is being made, but huge challenges remain

Progress is being made, but huge challenges remain

Often the countries making the least progress are those affected by

high levels of HIV/AIDS, economic hardship or conflict.

Currently available data show that while some countries have made impressive gains in achieving health-related targets, others are falling behind.

WHEN May 20106 |

Progress on the health-related MDGsProgress on the health-related MDGs

Fewer children are dying Annual global deaths of children under five years of age fell from 12.6

in 1990 to 8.8 million in 2008 – down by 30%

Fewer children under five are underweight: % has dropped from 25% in 1990 to 16% in 2010

Although more women get skilled help during childbirth globally, for women in Africa and South-East Asia fewer than 50% of all births were attended.

WHEN May 20107 |

Progress on the health-related MDGsProgress on the health-related MDGs

Fewer people are contracting HIV - New HIV infections declined by 16% globally between 2001 and 2008

Tuberculosis treatment is more successful - existing cases of TB are declining, along with deaths among HIV-negative TB cases

More people have safe drinking-water, but….not enough have toilets

WHEN May 20108 |

Health-related MDG scorecardHealth-related MDG scorecard

MDG4

MDG 7

MDG 6

MDG 5

Malaria mortalityper 100 000 population

Skilled birth attendant% births

Sanitation% using improved facilities

Water% using improved sources

TB treatmentsuccess rate %

HIV/AIDS prevalence% adults aged 15-45

Contraceptive use% married women aged 15-49

Maternal mortalityper 100 000 live births

Measles immunization %

coverage

Under 5 mortality per 1000

live births

WorldWestern Pacific

South-East Asia

EuropeEastern Mediterranean

AmericasAfrica

The WHO African and Eastern Mediterranean regions are most off-track to achieve the MDG4 target

The WHO African and Eastern Mediterranean regions are most off-track to achieve the MDG4 target

WHEN May 201010 |

MDG 5: Improve maternal healthMaternal mortality not moving fast enough in the right direction

MDG 5: Improve maternal healthMaternal mortality not moving fast enough in the right direction

0.5

0 1 2 3 4 5 6%

MDG Required annual pace of decline

Lancet estimates 1990-2008

UN estimates 1990-2005New UN estimates - in preparation

WHEN May 201011 |

Discrepancies in coverage of key maternal and child health interventions

Discrepancies in coverage of key maternal and child health interventions

Coverage of interventions such as antenatal care and immunization is relatively high

Coverage of interventions that are dependent on a functioning health care system, such as skilled care during delivery, management of diarrhoea and care for pneumonia tends to be comparatively low

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Dipping in and out of the health care system;low- and lower middle-income countries

Dipping in and out of the health care system;low- and lower middle-income countries

More people in need are receiving antiretroviral therapy in low- and middle-income countries 2002–2008

More people in need are receiving antiretroviral therapy in low- and middle-income countries 2002–2008

Source: Towards universal access: scaling up priority HIV/AIDS interventions in the health sector.

WHO/UNAIDS/UNICEF Progress Report 2009

WHEN May 201014 |

ChallengesChallenges

Conflict-affected and fragile states are furthest away from achieving the MDGs

More efforts and investment are necessary to prevent set backs, and to accelerate progress towards the MDGs

Better data are key – the lack of investment in health information systems at country level to assess achievements is a significant problem

Time is short – urgent action is needed!

WHEN May 201015 |

Moving forwardMoving forward

Better health outcomes depend on effective interventions delivered by better health systems

Better health requires coherent policies and a comprehensive approach that also addresses the social, environmental and economic determinants of ill-health

Outcomes, interventions, programmes and systems come together in a robust country-led national health policy & strategy requiring an inclusive process of consultation to ensure democratic ownership

There is an urgent need to align external support around the national health policy & strategy to reduce fragmentation and the burden on countries

WHEN May 201016 |

8.8 million deaths in children under 5

3 million diarrhoea & pneumonia child deaths

1 million malaria deaths

2.7 million new cases of HIV infections

33 million people living with HIV/AIDS

5 million people in need without access to ARVs

1100 million people without access to sanitation

We can't afford to look away…..We can't afford to look away…..

WHEN May 201017 |

Key messages to concludeKey messages to conclude The MDGs have been a powerful force in the fight to reduce

poverty and inequity

Progress towards the health MDGs is being made, but is unequal and fragile

Health is at the centre of the development agenda. All the MDGs influence health, and all causes of ill-health affect the achievement of the MDGs

…We need to ensure the momentum remains around the MDGs and that political commitment is sustained!

WHEN May 201018 |

Thank you

Thank you

WHEN May 201019 |

WHO ActivitiesWHO Activities

Setting prevention and treatment guidelines and other global norms and standards;

Providing technical support to countries to implement them;

Analyzing social and economic factors and highlighting the broader risks and opportunities for health

Assisting national authorities as they develop health policies and plans;

Helping governments work with development partners to align external assistance with domestic priorities;

Collecting and disseminating data on health so countries can plan health spending and track progress.