8 The World Health Report 2005 reach this target by that date in every region, and in every country. The Millennium Declaration (50), coming after a decade of"unprecedented stagnation and deteriora- tion"(51), set out eight specific Millennium Development Goals(MDGs), each with its numerical targets and indicators for monitoring progress. The MDGs galvanized coun tries and the international community in a global partnership that, for the first time, articulated a commitment by both rich and poor countries to tackle a whole range of dimensions of poverty and inequality in a concerted and integrated way The health agenda is very much in evidence in the MDGs: it is explicit in three of the eight goals, eight of the 18 targets, and 18 of the 48 indicators. This emphasis on health reflects a global consensus that ill-health is an important dimension of poverty in its own right. Il-health contributes to poverty. Improving health is a condition for poverty alleviation and for development Sustainable improvement of health depends on successful poverty alleviation and reduction of inequalities. It is no accident that the formulation of the MDG targets and indicators reveals the special priority given to the health and well-being of women, mothers and children Mother and child health is clearly on the international agenda even in the absence of iversal access to reproductive health services as a specific Millennium Develop ment Goal. Globally, we are making progress towards the MDGs in maternal and child health. Success is overshadowed, however, by the persistence of an unacceptably high mortality and the increasing inequity in maternal and child health and access to health care worldwide UNEVEN GAINS IN CHILD HEALTH Being healthy means much more than merely surviving. Nevertheless, the mortality rates of children under five years of age provide a good indicator of the progress made or the tragic lack of it. Under-five mortality rates fell worldwide throughout the latter part of the 20th century: from 146 per 1000 in 1970 to 79 per 1000 in 2003. Since 1990, this rate has dropped by about 15%, equating to more than two million lives Figure 1. 1 Slowing progress in child mortality: how Africa is faring worst 250 Eastem mediterranean South-East asia without india 00020038 The World Health Report 2005 reach this target by that date in every region, and in every country. The Millennium Declaration (50), coming after a decade of “unprecedented stagnation and deteriora￾tion” (51), set out eight specific Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), each with its numerical targets and indicators for monitoring progress. The MDGs galvanized coun￾tries and the international community in a global partnership that, for the first time, articulated a commitment by both rich and poor countries to tackle a whole range of dimensions of poverty and inequality in a concerted and integrated way. The health agenda is very much in evidence in the MDGs: it is explicit in three of the eight goals, eight of the 18 targets, and 18 of the 48 indicators. This emphasis on health reflects a global consensus that ill-health is an important dimension of poverty in its own right. Ill-health contributes to poverty. Improving health is a condition for poverty alleviation and for development. Sustainable improvement of health depends on successful poverty alleviation and reduction of inequalities. It is no accident that the formulation of the MDG targets and indicators reveals the special priority given to the health and well-being of women, mothers and children. Mother and child health is clearly on the international agenda even in the absence of universal access to reproductive health services as a specific Millennium Develop￾ment Goal. Globally, we are making progress towards the MDGs in maternal and child health. Success is overshadowed, however, by the persistence of an unacceptably high mortality and the increasing inequity in maternal and child health and access to health care worldwide. UNEVEN GAINS IN CHILD HEALTH Being healthy means much more than merely surviving. Nevertheless, the mortality rates of children under five years of age provide a good indicator of the progress made – or the tragic lack of it. Under-five mortality rates fell worldwide throughout the latter part of the 20th century: from 146 per 1000 in 1970 to 79 per 1000 in 2003. Since 1990, this rate has dropped by about 15%, equating to more than two million lives Figure 1.1 Slowing progress in child mortality: how Africa is faring worst Mortality rate of children under 5 years of age per 1000 live births 0 50 100 150 200 250 1970 1980 1990 2000 2003 Africa Eastern Mediterranean World South-East Asia South-East Asia without India Western Pacific Western Pacific without China Americas Europe