UN calls for sustained momentum as it counts down to the 2015 deadline for MDGs

By Kurt Campbell

[www.inewsguyana.com] – The United Nations (UN) have issued a call for the ramping-up of action to generate momentum as its counts down the 1000 days to the achievement of the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) – which range from halving extreme poverty rates to halting the spread of HIV/AIDS and providing universal primary education – by the target date of 2015.

This call was further adumbrated on Wednesday October 17 by United Nations Resident Coordinator in Guyana Ms. Khadija Musa during an engagement with the media on its role in sustaining the momentum to achieving the MDG’s.

Musa was passionate in her call for the media to do more to keep the momentum going and accelerate progress by ensuring that the issues remain in the forefront of awareness. She says with the time remaining – which is approximately 800 days – if sustained focus is applied it can go a far way in improving the MDG’s.

She also issued a call for the forging of greater partnerships between businesses, governments, civil societies and academic foundations among others in achieving the goals by the 2015 deadline.

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh says the attainment of the eight MDG’s have been placed at the center of the Guyana Government’s investment decisions and national policies. Without going into the details of each goal and where Guyana stands in terms of achievement, Minister Singh told reporters that the country has recorded considerable progress.

He said the attainment of goal number five  –maternal mortality – have posed significant challenges for the administration, adding that the goal remains an extremely sensitive one which evokes strong emotions but presented figures which show an improvement in this area.

He said in 1991 for every 1000 births there were 120 deaths, while in 2008 for every 1000 births there were 17 deaths.

Singh was also critical of the developed countries in implementing goal number eight – which calls for a global partnership for development – expressing the sentiment that it has been overlooked.

The Millennium Development Goals are eight international development goals that were established following the Millennium Summit of the United Nations in 2000, following the adoption of the United Nations Millennium Declaration. All 189 United Nations member states and at least 23 international organizations committed to help achieve these goals by the year 2015.

It is said to be the most successful global anti-poverty push in history.