The United Nations SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being

The United Nations set up seventeen goals in 2015, related to global development, to be achieved by 2030, which work as a blueprint to achieve a better, sustainable future for all and are collectively known as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The third SDG, Good Health and Well-Being, aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages by the year, 2030. There is good news on this – we have made remarkable progress in the past decade, with the number of child deaths reduced by half. However, it’s a long road ahead and to understand what lies ahead, let us take a closer look at the sub-goals under the SDG. 

1. Reduce maternal mortality

2. Eliminate preventable deaths of individuals under 5 years of age

3. End epidemics of communicable diseases

4. Reduce mortality from non-communicable diseases and promote mental health

5. Prevent and treat substance abuse

6. Reduce road injuries and deaths

7. Universal access to sexual and reproductive care, family planning and education

8. Achieve universal health coverage

9. Reduce illnesses and death from hazardous chemicals and pollution

10. Implement the WHO framework convention on tobacco control

11. Support research, development and universal access to affordable vaccines and medicines

12. Increase health financing and support heal workforce in developing countries

13. Improve early warning systems for global health risks

These sub-goals provide an overview of the various areas that need to be worked upon – which are multifaceted. There is a need to investigate preventing diseases, spread awareness of the various communicable and non-communicable diseases, and set up policies to ensure all can access quality healthcare facilities.

Apart from these, the fulfilment of this SDG goal would be responsible for the fulfilment of the other SDG goals of the UN viz.  zero hunger, no poverty, quality education etc as it would help in help in creating a better platform to focus on other goals and vice-versa.

Based on these, individuals, organisations, and governments across the globe need to base their strategies on the goals as well as sub-goals to bring in a focussed approach to the eradication of social evils in specific communities.

In this series of articles, we will discuss each of the SDGs in detail to understand the role of countries and stakeholders to fulfil these sustainable development goals.