Health is defined as a state of complete physical and mental well-being. Many people in developing countries have no chance of achieving that state. Every year more than 7.5 million infants still die from diseases that are mostly avoidable. That is equivalent to around 21,000 deaths every day. More than 80 per cent of these deaths occur in the poorest countries of sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Every day around 1,000 women die worldwide from the consequences of pregnancy or childbirth, because proper medical care is not available. According to United Nations’ estimates, 1.8 million people died of AIDS in 2010. Many millions also suffer from diseases such as tuberculosis, malaria, river blindness, sleeping sickness and dengue fever. more - Health – a human right

It is 30 years since the discovery of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and it has now spread across the whole of the world. Today some 34 million people are estimated to be carrying the HI virus, which destroys the immune system and triggers the immune deficiency syndrome AIDS. If the condition is left untreated, sufferers will, ultimately, die. Very many of those affected live in developing countries, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, where in some countries nearly 23 million people were infected in 2010. In some countries more than one fifth of adults carry the HI virus. HIV is a threat to the existence of entire societies. It is not only a disaster in human terms, but in economic terms too , and jeopardises sustainable development in the countries affected. more - Working together to fight HIV and AIDS

Sexual and reproductive health means being able to lead a safe and satisfying sex life that is benefi­cial to health. It means the right to freedom from sexual coercion and sexual violence. But it also means being well informed and free to take one’s own decisions in regard to family planning, for example whether and when to have children and how many. The term applies to all the stages of life: childhood, youth and old age. Promoting sexual and reproductive health and the associated rights are important instruments of German development cooperation. more - Sexual health and population dynamics

Many developing countries and emerging economies do not have sufficiently efficient health systems. Large parts of the population – especially the poor and those living in rural regions – do not have access to adequate and appropriate medical services where they live. Establishing an efficient health system is an important prerequisite for a country’s development. That is why strengthening health systems is one of the priority areas of German development cooperation in the health sector. more - Strengthening health systems