Progress on the health-related Sustainable Development Goals in Eastern Mediterranean Region countries: getting back on track in the time of COVID-19

ABSTRACT

The report shows that availability of data for health-related SDG indicators varied considerably for the period, with huge gaps across indicators for cause-specific mortality, hepatitis prevalence, health financing and access to medicine indicators. There has been a decline in the reported number of new cases of HIV/AIDS and TB;improvements in routine vaccination coverage;sustained high proportion of births attended by skilled health workers;fewer malnourished children;and an increasing access to improved drinking-water and sanitation. [...]key decisions and actions are inevitable. [...]addressing gender equality and health inequities is essential if the Region is going to meet the health-related SDGs.