Lots more needs to be done regarding MDG 4 (reducing child mortality). But some progress has been made on MDG 5 (reducing maternal mortality) as maternal-mortality rate (MMR) dropped by 45% (2010 data) if compared to MMR in 1990. In 1990, 380 maternal deaths were taking place per 100,000; which dropped to 210 per 100,000 by 2010. "Maternal mortality is totally preventable, so this decline is not enough," said Govind.
MDG 6 (combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases) is where countries are showing some progress but challenges remain. Over 9.5 million people living with HIV are on antiretroviral therapy (ART) globally; malaria control has been on track in most nations. But challenges remain, believes Citizen News Service (CNS). Antibiotic drug-resistance for instance is alarming in most developing nations which has serious repercussions for disease-control programmes such as those of tuberculosis (TB) for instance. Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as heart disease, stroke, cancers, diabetes, mental health, asthma, among others, have been escalating despite the fact that common shared risk factors are well-identified (tobacco control, unhealthy diet, lack of exercise, excessive alcohol intake, among others).
There has been little progress on MDG 7 (ensure environmental sustainability). Leave aside progress, instead there were lot of tensions and deadlocks between countries from the north and the south on 'common but differentiated responsibilities (CBDR)' regarding environmental sustainability.
MDG 8 (global partnership for development) is one of the most failed goals, said Govind as countries of the south blame north and those of north blame south for not partnering effectively.
Underlining inequalities within countries and widening gap between 'haves' and have-nots', Pooja Parvati of Oxfam India remarked: "What about the 'north' in the 'south' and 'south' in the 'north'?"
What goals should we have to measure development after 2015?
In past one and a half years, 13 open working-group (OWG) sessions took place to produce a draft list of 17 Strategic-Development Goals (SDGs) with 168 targets (17 SDGs are online here).
Ranja Sengupta of Third World Network (TWN) said that this list of SDGs provide a framework to work with but is indeed a minimalist agenda to some extent too. During OWG negotiations, north-south divide was sharp. After lot of discussions and negotiations around polarized positions of developed and developing nations, these draft SDGs have been listed. For example, agreeing that these goals are also for developed countries and not just for developing nations was important so that all onus is not just on the developing nations but on all nations. Similarly on issues such as environment, lot of 'common but differentiated responsibilities' (CBDR) need to be shouldered by all nations, including the rich nations. Inequality within nations and between nations was also prominently articulated in these goals.
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