Good news from the government is pretty rare. Good news in the media is even more rare. So when I read this headline the other day, I smiled: “WHO sees good progress on UN health goals for poor.”
According to a recent study by the U.N.’s World Health Organization, good progress is being made on health-related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
- Fewer children are dying.
- The estimated percentage of underweight children under 5 has dropped.
- New HIV infections have declined.
- Existing cases of tuberculosis are declining.
- The world is on track to achieve the MDG target on access to safe drinking water.
Let’s just pause for a moment to let this sink in. We are making progress. Let’s celebrate this!
Of course, this doesn’t mean we can slow down in our fight against global poverty. If anything, seeing progress should motivate us to work even harder. And, as has been mentioned around here before, eliminating extreme poverty is just a matter of priorities.
The annual income of Christian American churchgoers is $5.2 trillion. The amount of money needed to end global poverty is about $74 billion a year. … Basically, 1 percent of our annual income a year is what is needed to end extreme poverty.
So the question is, what are your priorities?
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Really good post Becky. I love the statement you made about these facts motivating us to work even harder. You are so right about that — and I will share some of this when I speak this weekend
This is awesome news! But it is true, we have to work harder now, even though progress has been made. It’s kind of sad to think that we do have the means to end poverty, we just don’t want to make that sacrifice. I definitely have to re-examine my priorities!
This is awesome! We’ve come far and, yes, we still have a long way to go. But even having these goals set is a plus – it gives us something tangible to work towards.
I read this on another message board today:
If you make $48,000 a year, you are in the top 1% annual income in the entire world.
If you make $10 an hour and work full time, you are in the top 12% in the world.
That really shifted my perspective and made me realize that I DO have the means to be out there helping others in some way.
To even have food to feed my family, clean water, a safe environment in which to raise my child — it’s more than many have in this world. But I CAN do something to change that.
Anyway, thanks Compassion for all you do — and all you’ve done!!! It’s a blessing to have an organization that I trust with my money, my time, etc. I pray that we continue to see these kinds of improvements in children’s lives.