MDGs: Nigeria beats deadline, attains HIV/AIDS, Maternal Mortality targets

Ahead of the September, 2015 target date of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the Federal Government said Nigeria has attained the targets on HIV/AIDs and Maternal Mortality in the global development goals.
This was contained in a statement by the Director/Secretary of Programmes in the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on MDGs, (OSSAP-MDGs), Ogenyi Ochapa.
According to the statement, Ochapa stated that since Nigeria commenced the implementation of the MDGs in 2006, appreciable progress has been recorded, particularly in the areas of health, water, gender equality, reduction in the spread of HIV/AIDs, the prevalence of hunger and global partnership.
The statement also hinted that Nigeria had over two years before the deadline attained the Hunger Target in Goal 1, with the Food and Agricultural Organisation honouring the country for the achievement in Rome.
Ochapa, who noted that, while the final MDGs exit Report, which will contain the actual achievement in the implementation of MDGs is still being collated, however, stated that the Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) has dropped from 1,000 per 100,000 live births in 1990 to 243 per 100,000 live births in 2014 indicating success in the attainment of the target.
“In 1990, the Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) was estimated as 1,000 per 100,000 live births; in 2008, this figure decreased to 545 and in 2012, the figure was 350. The 2014 MMR figure stands at 243 per 100,000 live births, which means that this target has been achieved.”
Ochapa also added that: “Nigeria’s HIV prevalence decreased from a figure of 5.8 to 4.1 in 2010. This falling trend satisfies the criteria for the attainment of Target 6.A. In addition, the percentage of the population using improved drinking water sources increased from 57% in 2004 to 62.2% in 2014. Until recently, due to debt forgiveness negotiated from the Paris Club, the debt-export ratio was as low as 0.4. There has also been remarkable improvement in teledensity and Internet penetration.”
According to the Director/SOP MDGs, Nigeria has also recorded huge success in the areas of universal primary enrolment, gender parity in education, reduction in child mortality.
“Specifically, Nigeria has reduced by half the population of those who suffer from hunger way ahead of the 2015 deadline. The Primary Six Completion Rate improved to 88% in 2012 from a baseline of 82% in 2004 but declined to 74% in 2014. Nigeria has achieved the gender parity targets at primary and secondary education levels with the national average Gender Parity Index (GPI) being 1. Our under-five mortality rate declined from 157 per 1,000 live births to 89 per 1,000 live births in 2014. The 2012 infant mortality rate of 61 per 1,000 live births declined slightly in 2014 to 58.”