Photo: Yussuf Yussuf

Some of the 452 workers who sprayed households in Zanzibar in efforts to control malaria-causing mosquitoes on the island (file photo).

TANZANIA, with support from the United Nations, has made inroads in achieving Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

The Minister for East African Cooperation, Mr Samuel Sitta, made the revelation in Dar es Salaam during an occasion to mark the 67th Anniversary of the United Nations.

Mr Sitta mentioned the goals attained as Universal Primary Education (MDG II), promoting gender equality and empowerment of women (MDG III) and Combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases (MDG VI).

"While we appreciate the support provided so far, we appeal to the UN system and the international community in its entirety to commit fully to the implementation of all the MDGs by the set deadline," he appealed.

The minister mentioned the MDGs still lagging behind as MDG I -- reducing poverty and hunger by half, MDG 5 -- reducing maternal mortality and MDG 7-- access to improved drinking water in rural areas and access to improved sanitation in both urban and rural areas.

Mr Sitta called upon the UN system and UN team at country level to assist countries undertake a comprehensive review of the implementation of the MDGs.

Meanwhile, UN member states leaders have raised concern over the need to take concerted efforts to address challenges on peace and security that still pose threats across the globe.

"All the development aspirations will not be possible without peace and security in and around the region. It is the moral obligation of every citizen and every community to maintain peace and harmony in the country," UN Resident Coordinator, Mr Alberic Kacou, said.

He said that effective implementation of commitments made was needed and the increased capacity of the institutions to perform their obligations as effective partners.

On the other hand, Mr Sitta called for strengthened UN Security Council to address the challenge. "We need to reform the UN Security Council to make it more democratic, representative, inclusive and transparent to tackle challenges confronting us," he said.

He mentioned other challenges engulfing the UN as climate change, extreme poverty, hunger, terrorism, piracy and proliferation of weapons.