Bringing some good news, a report on the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) released by the United Nations Economic and Social Communication for Asia-Pacific states that new HIV infections have fallen by 49 per cent in Southern Asia.
According to the report, new HIV infections worldwide fell by approximately 40 per cent between 2000 and 2013. Crediting the MDGs for their effective role in combating AIDS, malaria and other diseases, the report mentioned that the tuberculosis (TB) incidence rate has also been falling in South Asia.
Globally, tuberculosis prevention, diagnosis and treatment interventions saved an estimated 37 million lives between 2000 and 2013. Officials said that goal setting and appropriate planning can lift millions of people out of poverty, empower women and girls, improve health and well-being, and provide vast new opportunities for better lives.
The report further mentioned that significant progress has been made in reducing malaria deaths and under-five mortality rate in South Asia has fallen by 60 per cent or more since 1990 and the maternal mortality ratio declined by more than 55 per cent between 1990 and 2013.
