millenium development goal

goal 6: to combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other diseases

1. The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are eight international development goals that were established following the Millennium Summit of the United Nations in 2000, following the adoption of the United Nations Millennium Declaration.

Our school, along with others, has been chosen to make a book on the sixth millennium development goal. we are researching this goal, finding statistics and facts and creating articles and artwork to go into our book. some of the aims of MDG 6 are the following: 

"Target 6.A:
Have halted by 2015 and begun to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS

• New HIV infections continue to decline in most regions.
• The number of new HIV infections per 100 adults (aged 15 to 49) declined by 44 per cent between 2001 and 2012.
• An estimated 2.3 million cases of people of all ages are newly infected and 1.6 million people died from AID-related causes.
• Comprehensive knowledge of HIV transmission remains low among young people, along with condom use.
• About 210,000 children died of AIDS-related causes in 2012, compared to 320,000 in 2005.

Target 6.B:
Achieve, by 2010, universal access to treatment for HIV/AIDS for all those who need it

• Antiretroviral medicines to treat HIV were delivered to 9.5 million people in developing regions in 2012.
• Over 900,000 pregnant women living with HIV globally were receiving antiretroviral prophylaxis or treatment by December 2012.

Target 6.C:
Have halted by 2015 and begun to reverse the incidence of malaria and other major diseases

• Between 2000 and 2012, the substantial expansion of malaria interventions led to a 42 per cent decline in malaria mortality rates globally.
• In the decade since 2000, 3.3 million deaths from malaria were averted, and the lives of three million young children were saved.
• Thanks to increased funding, more children are sleeping under insecticide-treated bed nets in sub-Saharan Africa.
• Treatment for tuberculosis has saved some 22  million lives between 1995 and 2012. "

                                                                   source

I have mixed opinions about transition year so far. 

On one hand, there have been weeks where we haven't done much or gone on any trips. during these weeks it feels a little boring as it is hard to motivate yourself in class. sometimes it feels like well if i have nothing to work towards, why work at all?

but there have been things about this year that i have loved. the pressure is off and you get to do things that you wouldn't have gotten the opportunity to do before. if you are in anyway quiet this is a year to volunteer for things and to take charge. it is a year that you'll have life experiences in, like writing and performing your own drama, work experience, even having a blog. Going to town to sell lollies for cancer or to sell holly. Things like this are things you can look back on and say you had a great time. 

if you don't really put in your all, and forget about looking bad in front of friends, your ty experience will not be all it has the potential to be. Grab every opportunity - like Gaisce. while sometimes i have wanted to give up and not put in the effort of doing it, i continue because it is something that i'll be able to say i have done, and the trip at the end will be worth it. 

You do get more comfortable in transition year. i have become more comfortable with teachers and speaking in class and have made friends that i wouldn't have if i was in fifth year. I have began talking to people that i used to think i wouldn't like and become friends with them. 

You don't know what will be thrown at you next when you're in ty but it is worth it. i have had a very eventful year so far, and have become happier in myself and in school.

i would recommend this year for people who are feeling uncomfortable, or want to participate but are too shy. You'll get so many chances to stand up and do something and while it can be tough getting through it - like in mini company - you'll never get the chance do it again.