Millennium Development Goals Report 2014

As per the report launched by the Secretary-General on 7 July 2014, millions of people’s lives have improved due to concerted global, regional, national and local efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which serve as the foundation for the next global development agenda.

UN MDG Report 2014 revealed that “world is far from achieving the crucial Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of reducing child mortality by two thirds as compared to the rate that prevailed in 1990”.

The 2014 stocktaking report is based on the 2012 data available from countries.

India has reported highest under-5 deaths globally
In 2012, 1.4 million kids died before reaching their 5th birthday
India has the highest under-five mortality of children in the world and reported a whopping 1.4 million deaths of children before they reached their fifth birthday.

The report acknowledges the few gains that have been made. For instance, the global rate of under-five mortality in 2012 was almost half of its 1990 rate, dropping from 90 to 48 deaths per thousand live births.

The estimated number of under-five deaths fell from about 12.6 million to 6.6 million over the same period. About 17,000 fewer children died each day in 2012 than in 1990.

All regions, with the exception of sub-Saharan Africa and Oceania, reduced their under-five mortality rate by more than half, but India continues to lead the child mortality burden even now.

Mr Ban said, “The Millennium Development Goals were a pledge to uphold the principles of human dignity, equality and equity, and free the world from extreme poverty,” .  . . “The MDGs, with eight goals and a set of measurable time-bound targets, established a blueprint for tackling the most pressing development challenges of our time.”

With many MDG targets already met on reducing poverty, increasing access to improved drinking water sources, improving the lives of slum dwellers and achieving gender parity in primary school, the report says many more targets are within reach by their 2015 target date.

If trends continue, the world will surpass MDG targets on malaria, tuberculosis and access to HIV treatment, and the hunger target looks within reach.

Other targets, such as access to technologies, reduction of average tariffs, debt relief, and growing political participation by women, show great progress.

Results show that concentrated efforts to achieve MDG targets by national governments, the international community, civil society and the private sector are working to lift people out of extreme poverty and improve their futures.

For more inputs on

• Saving lives in many ways
• MDGs a foundation for next development agenda
• Ending open defecation key to greater MDG success
• Accelerated action using known solutions needed to help women and children
• Aid money hit record highs, but in decline to the poorest countries

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