MDGs on poverty, slums and water attained

MANILA, Philippines – The Millennium Development Goals (MDG) on poverty, slums and water have been met 3 years ahead of schedule, but the rest will only be attained by 2015 if governments do not waver in their commitments, the United Nations said.

The global body launched on Monday, July 2, its 2012 MDG Report, which said that for the first time since poverty trends began to be monitored, both the number of people living in extreme poverty and the poverty rates have fallen in every developing region, including sub-Saharan Africa.

In 2010, the share of people living on less than a US$1.25 a day dropped to less than half of its 1990 value.

Another target was also achieved: 89% of the world population now has access to drinking water, from 76% in 1990.

In addition, the number of urban residents in the developing world living in slums has declined from 39% in 2000 to 33% in 2012.

More than 200 million slum dwellers have gained access to either improved water sources, improved sanitation facilities, or durable or less crowded housing.

The world has also achieved parity in primary education between boys and girls, and enrollment rates keep rising.

Meanwhile, 6.5 million people in developing regions were receiving antiretroviral therapy for HIV or AIDS at end-2010, constituting the largest one-year increase ever form 1.4 million at end-2009.

But the progress is not complete, especially in maternal health and adolescent childbearing, access to sanitation facilities, or gender inequality.

“The current economic crises besetting much of the developed world must not be allowed to decelerate or reverse the progress that has been made. Let us build on the successes we have achieved so far, and let us not relent until all the MDGs have been attained,” said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. – Rappler.com