Today marks the 1000th day before the target date to achieving the Millennium Goals by 2015. Eight concrete goals were set in September 2000, when the largest gathering of world leaders at the United Nations in New York unanimously agreed to cut global poverty and hunger by half, fight climate change and disease, tackle unsafe water and sanitation, expand education and open doors of opportunity for girls and women.
Bhutan’s progress in achieving the Millennium Development Goals has been remarkable, says UN in Bhutan.
A record 99 percent of children are in primary school. Figures from 2012 indicate that for the first time the number of girls enrolled in primary schools was more than that of boys ensuring gender parity.
UN in Bhutan also says the poverty rate has been almost halved. From 23.2 per cent in 2008, the figure has been brought down to 12 percent in 2012.
Maternal health has improved and child mortality drastically reduced, while targeted investments continue in fighting malaria, HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis.
The UNDP says much has been achieved but targets still remain, which needs an accelerated push to ensure that Bhutan achieves the MDGs with equity.
It says mothers and children are still dying of preventable or treatable conditions, communities and schools still lack improved sanitation and safe drinking water, unemployment especially among the youth, inequalities and disparities are growing.
Shaheen Nilofer, the UN Resident Coordinator, acting in-charge says the 1,000 days ahead are a critical period to step up efforts and accelerate action. Strategic and targeted investments must be scaled up to boost results, such as increase people’s capacity to access and use improved primary health care, water and sanitation, focusing on the poorest and most vulnerable people, including equal access by women and girls to essential services including employment and economic opportunities.
Meanwhile, the UN in Bhutan is holding national consultations with government, civil society and partners to build on the momentum generated by the MDGs to carry forward the post-2015 development agenda.
This has kick started with a series of television discussions and an online discussion on the theme: “Can GNH Shape the Future We Want-Post 2015?”
A one-day national consultation in Thimphu is planned for April 12.
