UN's Millennium Development Goals

The three words Millennium Development Goals appear in the news recently. What exactly is it?

From the official website of UN's Millennium Development Goals:

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From The Brunei Times:

Brunei pledge to meet Millennium Development Goals

Sunday, May 25, 2008

BRUNEI DARUSSALAM is continually committed towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) although Brunei, is one of the countries which has successful met the objectives in areas such as universal primary education, gender equality, empowering women, reduction in child mortality, and combating HIV and Aids, malaria and other diseases.

In his speech delivered at the 61st World Health Assembly (WHA), in Geneva, Switzerland, Minister of Health, Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Hj Suyoi Hj Osman, however pointed out that Brunei still experiences challenges such as increased health care costs, natural disasters, as well as a rise in non-infectious diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and cancer.

According to a press statement from the Ministry of Health, the 61st session of the assembly which took place at the Palais des Nations from May 19 to 24, 2008, discussed a number of public health issues, including pandemic influenza preparedness, prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases, implementation of the global strategy; public health, innovation and intellectual property, strategies to reduce the harmful use of alcohol; and climate change and health.

The assembly also discussed the programme budget, administration and management matters of the World Health Organisation (WHO). This year's theme is "Health-related Millennium Development Goals" which focuses on achievements and challenges faced by member states in heading towards the MDGs for 2015. For this, member states were urged to strengthen health systems through basic health care principles.

The WHA is the supreme decision-making body of WHO. The meeting was attended by delegations from all the world body's member states and focuses on a specific health agenda prepared by the Executive Board.

At the sidelines of the assembly, Pehin Dato Hj Suyoi also held separate bilateral discussions with Dr Ali Mohammed Moosa Al Moose, Minister of Health of the Oman Sultanate, Dr Siti Fadilah Supari, Indonesia's Minister of Health and Malaysian Health Minister Dato' Dr Low Tiong Lai, the statement said.