The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), established by the United Nations in 2000, delineated eight overarching objectives aimed at eradicating poverty and improving the quality of life globally by 2015. Among these goals, health-related targets held significant prominence, recognizing the fundamental role of well-being in human development. Specifically, MDG 4 sought to reduce child mortality rates, MDG 5 aimed to improve maternal health, and MDG 6 targeted combating HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases. Over the past two decades, governments worldwide, including various initiatives spearheaded by the Government, have undertaken concerted efforts to achieve these health-related MDGs. In particular, comprehensive immunization campaigns, strengthened healthcare infrastructure, and increased access to essential medicines and treatments have contributed significantly to progress in reducing child mortality rates. Moreover, investments in maternal health programs, including prenatal care and skilled birth attendance, have led to a decline in maternal mortality rates. Additionally, through collaborative partnerships and scaled-up interventions, governments have made substantial strides in combating HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other infectious diseases, with improved access to antiretroviral therapy and mosquito nets. While challenges persist, the concerted actions taken by governments have undeniably propelled advancements towards achieving the health-related MDGs, underscoring the importance of sustained commitment and collective action in fostering global health equity and well-being.
Tag: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, and Human Resources.
Decoding the Question:
- In Introduction, try to write about MDG.
- In Body,
- Identify major MDG goals related to health.
- Discuss various schemes with respect to health-related goals under MDG.
- Try to Conclude answers with writing progress made by India and suggest way forward.
Answer:
The United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are eight goals that the UN Member States have agreed to try to achieve by the year 2015. The United Nations Millennium Declaration, signed in September 2000, commits world leaders to combat poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy, environmental degradation, and discrimination against women. The MDGs are derived from this Declaration. Each MDG has targets set for 2015 and indicators to monitor progress from 1990 levels. Several of these relate directly to health.
Millennium Development Goals Related to Health:
- Millennium Development Goal 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger.
- Millennium Development Goal 4: Reduce child mortality.
- Millennium Development Goal 5: Improve maternal health.
- Millennium Development Goal 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases.
- Millennium Development Goal 7: Ensure environmental sustainability.
- Millennium Development Goal 8: Develop a global partnership for the development.
Government of India’s Actions to Achieve MDG:
Poverty Eradication Programmes:
- Prime Minister’s Rozgar Yojana (PMRY): PMRY started in 1993 with the objective of making available self-employment opportunities to the educated unemployed youth by assisting them in setting up any economically viable activity.
- Rural Employment Generation Programme (REGP) REGP, launched in 1995 with the objective of creating self-employment opportunities in the rural areas and small towns, is being implemented by the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC).
- Swarna Jayanti Shahri Rozgar Yojana (SJSRY) This program was launched on Dec. 1, 1997. Its main objective is to provide self-employment to unemployed youth of urban areas.
- Swaran Jayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY): SGSY, launched in April 1999, aims at bringing the assisted poor families (Swarozgaris) above the poverty line by organizing them into Self Help Groups (SHGs) through a mix of Bank credit and Government subsidy.
- Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY): This is a major scheme for the construction of houses of unserviceable kutcha houses to semi- pucca houses has also been added. From 1999-2000, the criteria for allocation of funds to states/UTs has been changed from poverty ratio to the housing shortage in the state.
- Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY): AAY launched in December 2000, provides food grains at a highly subsidized rate of Rs.2.00 per kg for wheat and Rs.3.00 per kg for rice to the poor families under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS). The scale of the issue, which was initially 25 kg per family per month, was increased to 35 kg per family per month from April 1, 2002.
Reducing Child Mortality and Maternal Health:
- Janani Surksha Yojana: Provide institutional delivery for absolutely free, providing antenatal check-ups, delivery including cesarean and post-natal care.
- Home-based home care is being provided by ASHA’s to improve rearing practices.
- Universal Immunisation Programme: This program is providing vaccination against many life-threatening diseases for children. Tuberculosis, Diphtheria, Pertussis, Polio, Tetanus, Hepatitis B, and Measles. Mission Indra Dhanush is also focused on the immunization of children.
- Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram: For health screening, early detection of birth defects, diseases, and developmental deficiency delays, etc.
- Pradhan Mantri Shurakshit Abhiyan: The Health Ministry launched an innovative scheme to provide health check-ups to pregnant women at government hospitals.
- The Government of India has adopted the Reproductive, Maternal, New-born, Child, and Adolescent Health Strategy (RMNCH+A) to improve maternal and child health outcomes.
Combating HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases:
- The National Vector Borne Diseases control program is aimed to eradicate malaria from the country.
- In 2005, the Government also launched the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), one of the thrusts of which is the control of vector-borne diseases, including malaria.
- In 2009, under the Government of India’s (GOI) new national malaria control policy, malaria prevention was strengthened by the adoption of Long-Lasting Insecticide-treated Nets (LLINs), and case management expanded through the mobilization of voluntary community workers (called ASHA, recruited under NRHM) who were trained in the use of Rapid Diagnostic Kits (RDKs), and the administration of Artemisinin-based Combination Therapy (ACT).
Though India is not able to achieve all the underlined targets in MDG, India has achieved great progress in health-related goals. Government should further intensify efforts in reaching out to the unreached populations and ensuring uniform distribution of resources. Universal health coverage can provide the impetus to India’s efforts to build up a sustainable health system where all citizens may get a rational and comprehensive package of preventive care, diagnostics, treatment as an entitlement, without having to pay at the point of use.
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