In 2000, the United Nations (UN) adopted eight MillenniumDevelopment Goals (MDGs), three of these
focused on health although several other MDGs included health-related components such as nutrition and
sanitation (1). Overall progress towards the MDGs has been inspiring and specifically the health-related
targets, e.g. MDG4 (reduce child mortality), MDG5 (improve maternal health) and MDG6 (combat HIV/
AIDS, malaria and other diseases) have been promising. For example, the global maternal mortality ratio
(MMR) has fallen by 44% (from 341 in 2000 to 216 per 100,000 live births in 2015) and under-five mortality
in the same period dropped by 53% (2). Despite these achievements, the world has failed to meet these
MDG targets for both maternal mortality and under-five mortality, a fact recognised by maternal health
practitioners, policy-makers and researchers across the globe (3). Moreover, progress has not advanced
equally across the globe, for instance, improvements in MMR have been better in Southeast Asia (69%
reduction) and the Western Pacific (64% reduction) (2).
After 15 years the MDGs reached their target date in 2015, and the global community has moved onto
a new agenda, namely that of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) (4).The SDGs integrate three
dimensions (social, economic and environment) of sustainable development for people, the planet, prosperity,
peace and partnerships. With high ambitions and unprecedented scope, Sustainable Development has 17
goals and 169 targets with one integrated goal “ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages.”
These agendas build upon and extend the MDGs to tackle the gap between the MDGs’ targets and reality;
consequently this is an important time for all of us to reflect, celebrate our achievements and move forward
with lessons learnt and evidence-based practice. The landmark conference ‘Global strategy for Women’s,
Children’s and Adolescents’ health hosted in Mexico City in October 2015 discussed the unfinished agendas
of the MDGs. It specifically focused on increasing equitable coverage of quality health care and provision of
integrated services delivered through a gradually strengthened primary health care system (5).
The SDGs devote 13 health-related targets focusing on population health and wellbeing issues including
maternal and child health, communicable diseases (including HIV), non-communicable diseases, substance
use, traffic accidents, universal access to sexual and reproductive health, and sanitation. There is no doubt
that progress towards these targets will improve health outcomes. It is estimated that achievement of these
health-related targets for child, maternal, communicable and non-communicable diseases would result in
an increased global average life expectancy of around four years by 2030 (2). Several other agendas under
targets such as nutrition, childhood development, reducing violence against women, disability, addressing
forced marriage, safe drinking water and universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights relate
to health, reflecting the need to improve cross-cutting socio-economic and environmental issues.