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The World Health Organization (WHO) sees the Millennium
Development Goals (MDG) as milestones on the road to health for all.
Therefore, along with other partners in health development, it is committed to
assist Member States in tracking the progress in and measuring achievements
towards health-related MDGs. One of the tangible results of that commitment
is this brochure, Health-related Millennium Development Goals 2005, brought
out by WHO, for the first time, presents quantitative data on health-related
MDG indicators of the 48 countries and areas in Asia and the Pacific that
comprise the WHO South-East Asia and Western Pacific Regions.
To view, in quantitative terms, whether progress towards
the targets is on track, two data points – 1990 baseline and the latest year
for which data was available – have been reported. For data between these two
reference points, readers may refer to the brochures on Basic Indicators of
the South-East Asia Region 2002 and 2004 and the Country Health Information Profiles
2004 of the Western Pacific Region, as well as other WHO publications that
cover the MDG including the World Health Report 2003.
Data has been captured either directly from MDG reports of
the countries submitted to WHO or through other UN sources. In instances
where specific information is lacking from MDG country reports, data has been
extracted from national health information bulletins and other official
national publications.
All efforts have been made to collect, compile, analyze
and present the most recent data for each specified time period, and to
adhere to WHO’s five criteria for statistical reporting: validity,
reliability, cross-population comparability, data audit trail and
consultation with national authorities. However, depending upon the capacity
and capability of national health information systems in monitoring and
reporting on the MDG process and, to some extent, due to differences in
definitions, concepts and measurement units, reported data for some
indicators may have limitations. Therefore, caution should be exercised,
particularly when using the data for trend analysis or intercountry
comparisons. For information on other health indicators not specifically related
to the MDG, readers may refer to Core Indicators 2005: Health Situation in
the South-East Asia and Western Pacific Regions.
It is hoped that this brochure would facilitate sharing,
among all stakeholders, of this state of quantitative evidence available on
the progress towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals. It should
also help to foster debate, strengthen alliance building, and renew political
commitment at the country level to seize the opportunity offered by the
Millennium Development campaign and to link the MDGs with national
development priorities.
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