United Nations Radio

Literacy is indispensable for achieving the Millennium Development Goals targeting maternal health and combating HIV and malaria, and for addressing some of the world's most important public health challenges.

That's what Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says in a message marking International Literacy Day, being observed Monday September 8th under the theme Literacy and Health. The Secretary-General says illiteracy has a direct impact on human health. It prevents people from being able to read the instructions on a medicine bottle. It means that people are less likely to know facts about AIDS, malaria and other infectious diseases.

Secretary-General Ban says well-defined policies and increased investment will be essential to increase literacy skills.

And he calls on governments, the UN family, donors and civil society - to translate this commitment into more vigorous action.

One in five adults - some 774 million - are illiterate. Seventy-five million children are not in school, and millions more young people leave school without a level of literacy adequate for productive and active participation in society.

This is Donn Bobb reporting for United Nations Radio.

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