11 global trends Bill and Melinda Gates say prove the world is getting better

Contrary to the doom and gloom found in Twitter feeds and nightly news broadcasts, there's ample evidence that humanity is headed in the right direction.A new report from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation puts that progress in perspective.The report, entitled "Goalkeepers: The Stories Behind the Data," sheds light on how far public health officials have come in the fight against infectious disease and poverty.The Gates Foundation plans to release a new"Goalkeepers" report every year until 2030. Here are some of the biggest wins over the last 25 years.SEE ALSO:11 books on science Bill Gates thinks everyone should readChildhood mortalitySince 1990, more than 100 million lives have been saved among kids 5 years and younger. The rate of death has fallen from 85 deaths per 1,000 live births to just 38."The key to keeping the momentum," according to the report, "will be helping countries (or regions within countries) with the weakest health systems build up the basic infrastructure they need to reach all children with lifesaving interventions."Maternal mortalityOver the past 25 years,women have started giving birth in hospitals and health facilities more frequentlythan at home.The biggest benefit: Mortality rates have fallen from 275 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births in 1990 to 179 deaths in 2016."Skilled obstetrics care is keyto saving mothers' lives, so countries must make sure that their facilities are fully supplied, staffed by skilled health professionals, and provide the highest quality of care," the report read.Family planningOne of the strongest defenses against the spread of sexuallty-transmitted diseases is prevention.Between 1990 and 2016, the Gates Foundation has observed an increase from 68% to 76% in the percentageof women of reproductive age who have their family planning needs met with modern contraception.See the rest of the story at Business Insider
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