FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
IHP and MDGs
- What is the International Health Partnership (IHP)?
- What are IHP signatories required to do?
- Is the IHP a UK initiative?
- Has any progress been made on the Health MDGs?
- Where are the key areas that need to improve to meet the Health MDGs?
1/ What is the International Health Partnership (IHP)?
The International Health Partnership is characterized by a Global Compact, or near-binding agreement, signed by health agencies, donor countries and developing countries to accelerate progress on the health MDGs. The aim is to improve coordination between actors, to strengthen health systems and to build momentum at a national level for improving existing country-led health plans.
2/ What are IHP signatories required to do?
The IHP calls for signatories to accelerate action to scale up coverage and use of health services, and deliver improved outcomes against the health-related MDGs and universal access commitments.
3/ Is the IHP a UK initiative?
UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown hosted the launch of the International Health Partnership on September 5, 2007, but IHP+ will be taken forward by development partners and coordinated by an inter-agency IHP+ Core Team based in WHO, the World Bank, and WHO-AFRO, with an increasing number of bilaterals in support.
4/ Has any progress been made on the Health MDGs?
Yes, some progress has been made. For example, global child mortality rates declined by nearly 25% from 1990 to 2006, with under-5 deaths per 1,000 live births decreasing from 180 to 142 in the least-developed countries (LDCs). MDG goal 1b, to halve the proportion of people who suffer from hunger, has seen the number of malnourished children in Eastern Asia decline from 25 million to 10 million between 1990 and 2003, while in sub-Saharan Africa, the number increased from 29 million to 37 million children during this same period of time. Many experts have concluded that MDG goals 1b, 4, 5, and 6 will not be achieved without a revised and streamlined approach to implementation, in line with the 2005 Paris Declaration.
5/ Where are the key areas that need to improve to meet the Health MDGs?
Rapid improvements need to be made for us to meet MDGs 1b, 4, 5 and 6. Although much has been done, there is much improvement to be made - half a million women still die every year in childbirth and 10 million children don't live to see their fifth birthday. Although there has been progress in tackling HIV and AIDS, there is still much to be done; this year, an estimated 4.3 million people were newly infected with HIV.
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