The Millennium Development Goals: The Last 500 Days

Today marks 500 days until the target date to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) – eight goals embraced by world leaders and member states at the United Nations in 2000 to galvanize a global effort to alleviate poverty and improve lives around the world. To mark this milestone, the United Nations Foundation highlighted its continuing commitment to join with the UN to advance progress on the MDGs.

As part of MDG500, Nothing But Nets hosted a Google+ hangout titled, “The Last 500: Continuing the Fight against Malaria, HIV/AIDS & Other Diseases.” This online panel discussion celebrated the progress that’s been made toward MDG 6, while focusing on how we harness this momentum to continue saving lives. We invited a diverse group of UN partners and experts to share their insights and plans to continue the fight over the next 500 days and beyond:

• Rear Admiral Timothy Ziemer, U.S. Global Malaria Coordinator, President’s Malaria Initiative
• Christoph Benn, Director of External Relations and Partnerships, The Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria
• Alan Court, Senior Adviser, Office of the UN Special Envoy for Malaria
• Valentina Buj, Malaria Health Specialist, UNICEF
• Moderated by Chris Helfrich, Senior Director, Nothing But Nets

Did you know we’ve made incredible strides in the fight against malaria? Consider these numbers:

• Over the last decade, we have reduced malaria mortality rates among children by nearly half.
• Since 2000, global efforts to stop malaria have saved an estimated 3.3 million lives.
• Fifty-two countries are on track to reduce malaria incidence by 75% in 2015.
• In sub-Saharan Africa, bed net ownership has increased from 3% to 54% since 2000.

If you missed the conversation, don’t fret! You can catch it again here: http://bit.ly/1pCutAC. In honor of MDG500, tell your friends how they can get involved in the fight against malaria. And don’t forget to use the hashtag: #MDGmomentum!