Abstract

As the world continues towards economic interdependency with extensive international travel, migration of workers, and reliance on labor forces worldwide, global public health issues are increasing in significance for both the developing and developed world. Most global health problems are associated with extreme poverty, lack of education, and lack of sanitation and clean water. Thus, in 2000, the United Nations established a set of Millennium Development Goals, to be met by 2015, which address extreme poverty, hunger, primary education, gender equality, child mortality, maternal health, infectious diseases (i.e. HIV/AIDS, Malaria, and Tuberculosis), environmental sustainability, and global partnerships for development. <p>At the midpoint in 2007-2008 for achieving these goals it is important to assess the progress which has been made and the challenges faced so that effective efforts can be reinforced and new approaches developed. At this midpoint extreme poverty and associated hunger decreased from about 1/3 of the world population to 1/5 a trend which will meet the 2015 goals. However, although the extreme poverty rate in Sub-Saharan Africa has declined a few percentage points during this period the rate of decline will fail to meet the goals unless progress is accelerated. Child mortality has declined significantly due to life-saving interventions such as immunizations. This decline is worldwide although the rate of decline is smaller in Sub-Saharan Africa and Southern Asia and will likely not meet the 2015 goals. Gross national incme per capita and governmental health expenditures are significantly correlated with child mortality. As discussed above, progress is definitely being made in improving public health worldwide. However, the burden of existing diseases and mortality is not evenly distributed geographically, nor are the rates of improvements. The goals of health, development and sustainability are interdependent. The progress and challenges associated with these goals will be empirically presented.</p>