MDG Report Not Encouraging - Ban-Ki-Moon.

The United Nations says, rising hunger, conflict and population growth are challenges to achieving many MDG targets by 2015.

This is in spite of efforts by national governments, the international community and civil society organisations to better the living conditions of people.

Launching the 2014 MDG report in New York yesterday, UN Secretary General Ban-Ki-Moon said MDG targets-related preventable problems such as reducing child and maternal mortality and increasing access to sanitation are slipping away from achievement by 2015.  

He said marginalising the and vulnerable in society, social exclusion and discrimination will be among the greatest obstacles to progress unless they are addressed through bolder and more focused interventions. 

On progress made in sub-Saharan Africa, the report indicates that although the region progressed on most MDG's persistent obstacles and new challenges are preventing it from meeting most goals by their 2015 target date.  

The report however says access to  anti retroviral therapy and the fight against malaria and tuberculosis have improved. 

It calls on stakeholders to focus and intensify efforts on areas where advances have been slow.

Source: UN