PHA-Exchange> WHO, WB warning on millenium goals

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WHO, WORLD BANK WARNING ON MILLENIUM GOALS

The World Health Organization and World Bank warned today that
developing countries risk falling short of meeting health-related U.N.
Millennium Development Goals unless they improve the efficacy of
resources, harmonize donor support and improve their health-care
systems.

WHO Director General Dr. Lee Jong-wook said developing countries need
to take "urgent action," warning that they cannot wait for other
countries to set a precedent in meeting the goals.  "Where the targets
are the product of a large consensus there is also the hazard of
everyone waiting for everyone else to risk making the first move," he
said.  "We still have time to avoid these pitfalls with the targets for
2015, but to do so we have to act now."

Four of the eight Millennium Development Goals set at the U.N.
Millennium Summit in September 2000 relate to health:  reducing
maternal and child mortality by three-fourths and two-thirds
respectively; halving the hunger rate; combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and
other infectious diseases, and improving access to essential drugs and
safe drinking water.  Of the 191 U.N. member countries, 189 committed
to meeting achieving the goals by 2015.

According to World Bank estimates, just 16 percent of developing
countries are on track to meet the goals, and no sub-Saharan African
countries are on target.

Developing countries are also falling short.  Only 17 percent are
likely to meet the goal on maternal and child mortality rates and only
40 percent are on track to meet the goal of halving the hunger rate.

World Bank President James Wolfensohn urged all countries committed to
achieving the goals to target more goal-related spending more
effectively.  "Donor harmonization in resource mobilization and use,
strengthening human resources in the health sector and improving
monitoring and evaluation, through the optic of a strong country and
equity focus, will be particularly important," he said.

The World Health Organization, World Bank and representatives of the
countries committed to achieving the development goals are meeting in
Geneva today and tomorrow to assess overall progress on the goals (WHO
release, Jan. 8).