Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, the world was not on track to deliver on its promise – included in Sustainable Development Goal 3 – to end preventable maternal and child mortality by 2030. And now the pandemic is jeopardizing precious but fragile gains.
GENEVA/LONDON/NEW YORK – As the world focuses its attention on winning the battle against COVID-19, we must not forget that we are still fighting a war against preventable child and maternal deaths – a war that world leaders pledged to win by 2030. The international community must recommit to that promise and deliver on it this decade.
Child survival is perhaps the greatest untold success story in the recent history of international development. Since the early 1990s, the mortality rate for children under age five has plunged by nearly 60%. And the annual rate of decline has accelerated since 2000, saving millions of lives. Maternal mortality has also fallen rapidly – by nearly 40% over the last 20 years.
These gains are largely the result of efforts to extend the reach of health systems in the world’s poorest countries. Primary health care has been the catalyst for some of the most impressive gains. Countries such as Bangladesh and Ethiopia have achieved astonishing progress by training and deploying health workers where they can be most effective – namely, in the communities they serve.
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For Communists, education is above all about engineering the soul.
But while the Communist Party of China is getting rid of any school textbooks that tell the truth about Hong Kong’s past and its democratic aspirations, historical facts cannot be erased forever.
is not surprised by the CPC authorities’ ongoing attempts to rewrite Hong Kong’s history.
At a time of deep frustration with the status quo, the reasons for Gustavo Petro’s victory in Colombia’s presidential runoff are not difficult to discern. But it is much less clear whether Petro will be able to implement his ambitious reform agenda.
considers the implications of Gustavo Petro’s election as the country’s next president.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has created a very different geopolitical context from that of 25 years ago, when the Spanish capital last hosted a NATO summit. Today, only the political will of Europeans and their leaders will be able to strengthen the continent’s security.
argues that a strong Europe is indispensable for revitalizing the transatlantic alliance.
On both sides of the Atlantic, policymakers, pundits, and the public fear that financial markets' appetite for immediate profit poses a growing threat to communities, economies, and the planet. But the argument is a red herring, and buying into it will lead to misguided, and possibly counterproductive policies.
disputes the widespread assumption that climate change and other problems are due to myopic profit-seeking.
The Alliance’s leaders are preparing to gather for a summit at a critical moment for European security. But even if Turkish opposition to Finland and Sweden’s membership bids can eventually be overcome, is Europe adequately prepared to serve as a capable military partner for NATO?
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GENEVA/LONDON/NEW YORK – As the world focuses its attention on winning the battle against COVID-19, we must not forget that we are still fighting a war against preventable child and maternal deaths – a war that world leaders pledged to win by 2030. The international community must recommit to that promise and deliver on it this decade.
Child survival is perhaps the greatest untold success story in the recent history of international development. Since the early 1990s, the mortality rate for children under age five has plunged by nearly 60%. And the annual rate of decline has accelerated since 2000, saving millions of lives. Maternal mortality has also fallen rapidly – by nearly 40% over the last 20 years.
These gains are largely the result of efforts to extend the reach of health systems in the world’s poorest countries. Primary health care has been the catalyst for some of the most impressive gains. Countries such as Bangladesh and Ethiopia have achieved astonishing progress by training and deploying health workers where they can be most effective – namely, in the communities they serve.
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