Countries making the least progress towards United Nations goals on health were often those affected by high levels of HIV/Aids, economic hardship or conflict, a World Health Organization (WHO) report released Today as indicated, according to dpa. The annual World Health Statistics report outlines the progress of the 193 WHO member countries towards achieving the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The report showed Africa had the highest child mortality rates, with a regional average of 145 deaths of children under five, per 1,000 live births. Europe's average was 15 deaths, while the West Pacific Region stood at 22. The war-torn West African state of Sierra Leone had the worst rate, with 262 deaths. Afghanistan followed with 257 deaths per 1,000 live births. San Marino, the Scandinavian countries and Singapore reported the lowest rates. The WHO said that while global child mortality rates have dropped 27 per cent since 1990, this was far from the MDGs of reducing child mortality by two-thirds by 2015. The report showed that the global maternal mortality rate has not moved much since 1990, with about 400 deaths of pregnant women or those in childbirth per 100,000 births. Sub-Saharan Africa reported most of the cases each year. United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has called this lack of progress an "outrage." Afghanistan was the worst performer outside of Africa. Afghan women have an average life expectancy of 42 years. The United States was shown to have the highest adolescent fertility rate of all highly developed countries, with about 41 girls aged 15-19 per 1,000, giving birth each year. New Zealand had a rate of 29, while Germany had 10 and Switzerland four. The report looked at various health indicators, including the number of hospital beds, HIV/AIDS prevalence, availability of drugs and other areas of health care. Africa was found to have about two doctors per every 10,000 people, while Europe had 32. A lack of investments in long-term projects appeared to be a large part of the problem facing the developing world, according to the report. In 1990, only about 3 billion people had sanitation. Since then, 1.1 billion have gained access. Given population growth, WHO officials said, this was hardly keeping up. The WHO said this was partially due to funding troubles and wealthy donors not consulting with governments of poorer countries, leading to an improper allocation of resources. Indicators showed that countries with good records spent more money, as a part of gross domestic product (GDP), on health. Similarly, many wealthier nations spent more on health, per capita, than poorer countries. Switzerland spent 10.8 per cent of GDP, compared to 4 per cent in Sierra Leone and 8.4 per cent in Spain. The US had the highest expenditure rate, spending 15.3 per cent of GDP on health, though it was lagging behind others on some key health indicators. One of the bright notes included in the report was on tuberculosis, with the world having already met MDGs goals in 2004. There was also some positive movement on malaria and other diseases. This year is the halfway point between the adoption of the MDGs and the target date for completion by the end of 2015.
