Achievement of the Health Millennium Development Goals – Urgent Action needed

Written declaration No. 449 | Doc. 12319 | 14 October 2010

Signatories:

Ms Liliane MAURY PASQUIER, Switzerland, SOC ; Ms Olena BONDARENKO, Ukraine, EPP/CD ; Lord Tim BOSWELL, United Kingdom, EDG ; Mr Tor BREMER, Norway, SOC ; Ms Lise CHRISTOFFERSEN, Norway, SOC ; Mr Valeriu GHILETCHI, Republic of Moldova, EPP/CD ; Ms Dzhema GROZDANOVA, Bulgaria, EPP/CD ; Mr Håkon HAUGLI, Norway, SOC ; Mr Jean HUSS, Luxembourg, SOC ; Mr Mogens JENSEN, Denmark, SOC ; Ms Francine JOHN-CALAME, Switzerland, SOC ; Mr Theo MAISSEN, Switzerland, EPP/CD ; Mr Dick MARTY, Switzerland, ALDE ; Ms Christine McCAFFERTY, United Kingdom ; Mr Felix MÜRI, Switzerland, ALDE ; Mr Cezar Florin PREDA, Romania, EPP/CD ; Ms Marlene RUPPRECHT, Germany, SOC ; Mr Fidias SARIKAS, Cyprus, SOC ; Ms Tineke STRIK, Netherlands, SOC ; Ms Doris STUMP, Switzerland, SOC ; Mr Jordi XUCLÀ, Spain, ALDE

This written declaration does not reflect the position of the Assembly; only of those members that have signed it. It will not be considered further by the Assembly.

The undersigned Members of the Assembly:

1. Point out that only 5 years are left to reach targets set by the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and are concerned about insufficient progress made in achieving the three health-related MDGs, especially in Eastern Europe, South-East Europe and the South Caucasus.

2. Express their content with well-on-track records towards achieving MDG 4 – Reducing Child Mortality, with child mortality falling by 50%.

3. Are alarmed about the high number of adolescent pregnancies and lack of progress for providing antenatal care from skilled health providers, especially to rural women. While somewhat on track to reach the target of MDG 5 - Improve Maternal Health, a large number of maternal deaths is still related to mostly preventable diseases.

4. Are highly concerned about low progress towards MDG 6 - Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases, with HIV prevalence being on the rise in Eastern Europe and none of the countries providing adequate anti-retroviral treatment coverage for the infected.

5. Call on their Governments to come up with an action plan to achieve MDGs on time for the Global MDG+ 10 Summit scheduled for 18-20 September 2010 in New York.