The United Nations and its partners are today marking the milestone of 1,000 days to the end of 2015 – the target date for achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The Republic of Moldova advanced in all eight development goals. Significant progress has been made in reducing poverty, infant and maternal mortality, protecting ecosystems and increasing the use of information technologies, IPN reports.

There are also goals and targets which require more efforts and action. The enrollment rate in primary school has been decreasing since 2008 mainly due to the quality and access to services for the most vulnerable children.

“We have 1,000 days to close the gaps and accelerate action to achieve the goals,” said Nicola Harrington-Buhay, UN Resident Coordinator in Moldova.

According to a press release from the UN in Moldova, 45 countries, including the Republic of Moldova, are now using the MDG Acceleration Framework to identify pragmatic solutions to speed up progress on lagging MDGs, and to reduce disparities in progress to date. To build on this success and accelerate action, the UN Secretary-General called on the international community to increase targeted investments in health, education, energy and sanitation, and to focus on the most vulnerable people.

The eight time-bound MDGs address poverty and hunger, education, gender equality, child mortality, maternal health, combatting AIDS, malaria and other diseases, environmental sustainability and a global partnership for development.