This report explores why maternal mortality continues to be so high in developing countries, and why emergency obstetric services are little utilized, through research carried out in poor areas in Ghana (Kassena-Nankana district), India (Uttar Pradesh state), and Kenya (Nairobi slums)
In this resource, intellectually disabled people and their families speak out about social exclusion and poverty. The broader scope of this work is to understand why this group has not managed to benefit from the millennium development goals and examine regional barriers to change. This document concludes with a set of recommendations and best practices from NGOs, civil society members and government officials. This resource would be useful for anyone with an interest in social exclusion disability and development
This report provides information about how children are affected worldwide by progress and lack of progress on water and sanitation millennium development goals. General information is presented and the situations in different regions of the world are highlighted. Tables and charts are provided. This resource is useful for people interested in water and sanitation issues for children
This report analyses the relevance, challenges and opportunities that emerge from incorporating disability issues into the Millennium Development Goals. The report represents the final part of DFID's comprehensive Disability Knowledge and Research project of 2005
"This paper summarizes the importance of improving maternal and reproductive health, the progress made to date and lessons learned, and the major challenges confronting programs today. The paper highlights the progress that some countries, including very poor ones, have made in reducing maternal mortality, but cautions that progress in many countries remains slow. Relying on evidence from the most recent research and survey information, the paper also analyzes the key determinants and evidence on effective interventions for attaining the maternal health MDG. The paper finds that key interventions to improve maternal and reproductive health and reduce maternal mortality include the following mutually reinforcing strategies: (a) mobilizing political commitment and fostering an enabling policy environment; (b) investing in social and economic development such as female education, poverty reduction, and improvements in women’s status; (c) providing family planning services; (d) ensuring quality antenatal care, skilled attendance during childbirth, and availability of emergency obstetric services for pregnancy complications; and (e) strengthening the health system and community involvement. The paper emphasizes that carrying out interventions remains a challenge in environments where political commitment, policies, as well as institutions and health systems, are weak. The paper concludes with guiding lessons from some of the countries that have successfully improved maternal health and with a discussion of some of the difficulties of measuring maternal mortality and morbidity outcomes"
This report has been produced by the Task Force on Child Health and Maternal Health. It identifies technical interventions needed to address the problems of high rates of maternal mortality, continued child deaths due to preventable illnesses, unmet need for sexual and reproductive health services, and weak and fragile health systems. The report also asserts that policymakers must act now to change the fundamental societal dynamics that currently prevent those most in need from accessing quality health care
This resource highlights the importance of increasing the availability, affordability, and appropriate use of medicines in developing countries. Produced by the Working Group on Access to Essential Medicines or the Taskforce on AIDS, Malaria and TB and Access to Essential Medicines it offers concrete and practical steps to increase incentives for research for priority diseases of developing countries, improve procurement and distribution, strengthen primary health systems, develop more human resources, and increase health funding
This briefing note focuses on the impact of water supply, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) on the lives of people living with HIV and AIDS. Key information is presented in brief headlines with supporting facts, case examples and photos. This paper is useful for people interested in HIV and AIDS and WASH issues in developing countries
A report of the learning study carried out as part of the Building Digital Opportunities (BDO) programme.The study focuses on mapping the experiences of BDO partners with ICTs and poverty reduction in order to enable BDO partners to improve their understanding of the role of ICTs in poverty reduction and play a pro-poor role in multilateral forums like the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS). It draws on research into the use of information and communication technology in Mali, Uganda and Zambia, and examines progress in fulfilling BDO's global objective to ensure that such technology contributes to the achievement of the 8 Millenium Development Goals and 17 Millenium Development Targets
"This report argues that the failures in healthcare over the last decade have been the result of flawed analysis and lack of political will. If we are to acheive the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) we must now absorb the lessons we have learned, and refocus our attention on broad-based, sectorally-coordinated, primary healthcare (PHC) system development, located within a rights-based framework, to which all governments must give their committment"
This study assesses whether universal primary completion can be achieved by 2015, the target date set by the Millennium Development Goals. This study focuses on the following two data gaps in many developing countries: the education policies that in many countries are needed for faster progress and the incremental financing required to support this progress. This study is useful for anyone interested in universal primary completion
This is a major policy document from DFID, the British government's overseas aid department. It assesses the significance of disability as a key development issue, and its importance in relation to poverty, human rights and the achievement of internationally agreed development targets. It also sets out ways in which development cooperation, including DFID's own work, can help incorporate the rights and needs of disabled people into the mainstream of poverty reduction work and the achievement of human rights. It is useful for disability policy makers, NGOs and disabled people working in advocacy and development
This website aims to share information and effectively advocate to mainstreaming disability in development cooperation policies of the European Union Member States, the European Commission, and European NGOs
This website contains many resources relating to the inter-relationship between mental health, poverty and development. It contains useful resources, information sheets, publications, journal and conference databases, key organisations and contacts, press releases and media coverage of the issues
This is the website for a project that is focusing on the health workforce needed to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. The building on the Capacity Project, this project works on support for global leadership, policy and planning, education and training, workforce effectiveness, evaluation and knowledge sharing; gender equity, and faith-based organisations. The website contains a searchable knowledge library and a blog
This website features information about the global End exclusion project that highlights the potential of persons with disabilities and aims to ensure that their human rights are respected. It especially focuses the inclusion of persons with disabilities in programmes designed to reduce poverty. Information about the project is provided as well as related news, resources and details about how to join the campaign
This comprehensive UN millennium development goal (MDG) website presents background information, reports and statements, statistics, and a calendar of events. It also features a section about Beyond 2015 highlighting an overview, timeline and related resources for post-MDG development agenda. Media information and details about how to get invovled are provided
This website presents background information and related resources about IDA's initiatives advocating for the inclusion of persons with disabilities in the millennium development goals (MDGs)
The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) state that health is critical to the economic, political and social development of all countries, yet they contain no goals or targets for non-communicable diseases, the largest burden of disease in low- and middle-income countries. This paper highlights the links among MDGs and non-communicable diseases including cardio-vascular disease, asthma, diabetes and cancer
