UNDP observing 1,000 days to MDG achievement target

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and its partners in Bangladesh are observing the milestone of 1,000 days to the end of 2015 -- the target date for achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDG).
From April 5 to 12, UN offices worldwide are working with governments, civil society and international partners to mark “MDG Momentum: 1,000 Days of Action” while UNDP in Bangladesh is organising events, competitions and a high level workshop.
Adopted by the UN member states in 2000, the eight time-bound MDGs address poverty and hunger, education, gender equality, child mortality, maternal health, combating AIDS, malaria and other diseases, environmental sustainability and a global partnership for development.
Bangladesh's poverty rate has nearly halved since 1992, coming down from 56.6 percent to 31.5 percent in 2010 and was well underway to meet the MDG target.
The under-five mortality rate plummeted from 146 per 1,000 live births in 1990 to 50 per 1,000 live births in 2009.
Maternal mortality went down from 564 to 194 per 100,000 live births while the contraceptive prevalence rate, as of 2010, stands at 61.7 percent, up from 39.7 percent in 1990.
However, Bangladesh has struggled in areas of environmental sustainability, nutrition and certain aspects of gender equity.
“The MDGs are the most successful global anti-poverty push in history. The goals have helped set global and national priorities, mobilise action and achieve remarkable results,” said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.