As the final version, the UNICEF report onmillennium development goals (MDGs) related to children highlights theexperience of countries around the world in realising MDGs and importantoutcomes in bringing progress for children worldwide since 1990.
Globally , mortality of children under-five dropped by more than half– from 90 per 1,000 live births to 43 per 1,000 live births – whileunderweight and chronic malnutrition among children under five decreasedby 42 percent and 41 percent, respectively. Maternal mortalitydecreased by 45 percent while some 2.6 billion people gained access toimproved drinking water sources.
Vietnam made major strides inthe period. Since 2000, the mortality rate of children under-five in thecountry has been halved from 39 per 1,000 live births to 20, the numberof stunted children has been reduced by one third (from 36 percent to25 percent), and the percentage of people with access to clean water hasincreased from 78 percent to 92 percent.
According to UNICEF,stronger local health, education and social protection systems can helpmore children grow up and develop comprehensively.
In itsreport, UNICEF also emphasised the need for global leaders to payattention to disadvantaged children in building and adopting sustainabledevelopment goals (SDGs) and designing investment projects.
Youssouf Abdel-Jelil, Chief Representative of UNICEF in Vietnam said thecountry has reached a gender balance in primary education and thedifference of the number of stunted children in urban and rural areasalso saw a remarkable drop.
MDGs provide an orientation for new development goals, helping focus on children who have not benefited from MDGs, he stressed.
UNICEFwill work closely with its Vietnamese partners to implement SDGs,especially in activities to bringing progress for children, he added.-VNA