Health millennium goals neglected in Asia-Pacific region: UN report

3 million children below five died in 2010 alone

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18 Feb 2012, 6:24 am

Hunger, child mortality and maternal mortality remain high in the Asia-Pacific region, making it difficult for the countries in the region to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015, says a UN report released on Friday in New Delhi.

Over three million children in the region died before their fifth birthday in 2010 alone, notes the report—Accelerating Equitable Achievements of the MDGs: Closing the Gaps in Health and Nutrition in Asia and Pacific. Public health experts who were present at the release of the report blame low public health spending as one of the reasons for unimpressive health indicators in India.

The millennium development goals (MDGs)

Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
Target: Halve the proportion of people living on less than a dollar a day and suffering from hunger by 2015

Achieve Universal Primary Education Target: to ensure all children complete primary education by 2015

Promote gender equality and empower women
Target: eliminate gender disparity at all levels by 2015

Reduce Child Mortality
Target: Reduce mortality rate among children under five by two-thirds

Improve maternal health
Target: Reduce ratio of women dying of childbirth by three-quarters by 2015

Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
Target: To halt and begin reversing the spread of HIV/AIDS and incidence of malaria and other major diseases

Ensure environmental sustainability
Target: Reduce by half the proportion of people without access to safe drinking water

Develop global partnerships for development
Target: develop further open trading and financial systems that include a commitment to good governance, development and poverty reduction, both nationally and internationally

Low public spending

Health indices linked to corruption

Positive news

Asian Development Bank (ADB)