The World Bank reported this month that many developing countries are falling further behind in efforts to meet the Millennium Development Goals of drastically cutting the death rate of children and pregnant women. On the other hand, many countries are on target to meet goals of cutting poverty in half.
On under-five mortality, for example,
60 percent of the people in the Middle East and North Africa are in countries on track to reach the goal for under-five mortality, 39 percent in Latin America and the Caribbean, 28 percent in Europe and Central Asia, 17 percent in East Asia and Pacific, 10 percent in South Asia, and 0 percent in Sub-Saharan Africa.
A similar situation holds for efforts to reduce maternal mortality,
84 percent of the people in the Middle East and North Africa are in countries on track to reach the goal for maternal mortality, 69 percent in East Asia and Pacific, 19 percent in Europe and Central Asia, 3 percent in Sub-Saharan Africa, 2 percent in Latin America and the Caribbean, and 0 percent in Sub-Saharan Africa.
When it comes to poverty and malnutrition, however, the situation is a bit better despite recent economic problems,
Some good news: 80 percent of the world’s people live in a country that is on track to hit the malnutrition target.
Sources:
Many Countries Falling Behind In Race To Improve Health And Reduce Deaths By 2015. Press Release, World Bank, November 10, 2004.
The millennium development goals for health – rising to the challenges. (PDF) World Bank, 2004.