International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer
16th September ...
All Day
Latest Updates:
Promote physical well-being for all people around the world
Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3) enshrines the global commitment to foster healthy societies and protect the rights of everyone to enjoy the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, this because world prosperity and sustainable development depend directly on this Goal. WHO (World Health Organization) considers health a fundamental human right. SDG 3 was created to promote physical well-being for all people around the world in order to ensure an healthiest life possible by 2030.
Our health is intrinsically connected with the health and status of our environment: air and water pollution, and the poor management of toxic waste, are just a few examples of causes affecting our health.
Currently the world is facing a global health crisis unlike any other: COVID-19 is spreading human suffering, destabilizing the global economy and upending the lives of billions of people around the globe. This disease has demonstrated all our fragility, weaknesses and unpreparedness. More efforts are needed to fully eradicate a wide range of diseases not only COVID-19. UN Members and dedicated organization such as the World Health Organization (WHO) are focusing on programs to tackle with health issues by focusing on providing more efficient funding of health systems, improved sanitation and hygiene, and particular attention is given to the protection of our environment because of the interconnection between the health of our mother Earth and our health.
Children’s health
- Malnourished children, particularly those with severe acute malnutrition, have a higher risk of death from common childhood illness such as diarrhoea, pneumonia, and malaria. Nutrition-related factors contribute to about 45 per cent of deaths in children under-5 years of age.
Maternal health
- Over 40 per cent of all countries have fewer than 10 medical doctors per 10,000 people; over 55 per cent of countries have fewer than 40 nursing and midwifery personnel per 10,000 people.
HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis
- 38 million people globally were living with HIV in 2019.
- 25.4 million people were accessing antiretroviral therapy in 2019.
- 1.7 million people became newly infected with HIV in 2019.
- 690 000 people died from AIDS-related illnesses in 2019.
- 75.7 million people have become infected with HIV since the start of the epidemic.
- 32.7 million people have died from AIDS-related illnesses since the start of the epidemic.
- Tuberculosis remains the leading cause of death among people living with HIV, accounting for around one in three AIDS-related deaths.
- Globally, adolescent girls and young women face gender-based inequalities, exclusion, discrimination and violence, which put them at increased risk of acquiring HIV.
- HIV is the leading cause of death for women of reproductive age worldwide.
- AIDS is now the leading cause of death among adolescents (aged 10–19) in Africa and the second most common cause of death among adolescents globally.
Target 3.1 Reduce maternal mortality
By 2030, reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 live births.
Target 3.2 End all preventable deaths under 5 years of age
By 2030, end preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age, with all countries aiming to reduce neonatal mortality to at least as low as 12 per 1,000 live births and under-5 mortality to at least as low as 25 per 1,000 live births.
Target 3.3 Fight communicable diseases
By 2030, end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases and combat hepatitis, water-borne diseases and other communicable diseases.
Target 3.4 Reduce mortality from non-communicable diseases and promote mental health
By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.
Target 3.5 Prevent and treat substance abuse
Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol.
Target 3.6 Reduce road injuries and death
By 2020, halve the number of global deaths and injuries from road traffic accidents.
Target 3.7 Universal access to sexual and reproductive care, family planning and education
By 2030, ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services, including for family planning, information and education, and the integration of reproductive health into national strategies and programmes.
Target 3.8 Achieve universal health coverage
Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health-care services and access to safe, effective, quality and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all.
Target 3.9 Reduce illnesses and death from hazardous chemicals and pollution
By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination.
Target 3.A Implement the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control
Strengthen the implementation of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in all countries, as appropriate.
Target 3.B Support research, development and universal access to affordable vaccines and medicines
Support the research and development of vaccines and medicines for the communicable and non-communicable diseases that primarily affect developing countries, provide access to affordable essential medicines and vaccines, in accordance with the Doha Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health, which affirms the right of developing countries to use to the full the provisions in the Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights regarding flexibilities to protect public health, and, in particular, provide access to medicines for all.
Target 3.C Increase health financing and support health workforce in developing countries
Substantially increase health financing and the recruitment, development, training and retention of the health workforce in developing countries, especially in least developed countries and small island developing States.
Target 3.D Improve early warning systems for global health risks
Strengthen the capacity of all countries, in particular developing countries, for early warning, risk reduction and management of national and global health risks.
Challenge: environmental factors kill millions of people every year causing nearly one quarter of all deaths worldwide;
Solution: avoid and reduce pollution to prevent millions of premature deaths every year.
Challenge: pollution, chemical exposure, climate change, and ultraviolet radiation contribute to more than 100 diseases affecting primarily young children and elder people;
Solution: Work with energy, transport, agriculture and industry sectors to create a healthier environment.
Challenge: air pollution is the world’s largest environmental health risk killing 6.5 million people prematurely every year;
Solution: adopt cleaner energy to reduce indoor and outdoor air pollution and save millions of lives.
What can we do to help achieving SDG 3? Surely the first action to take is to promote and protect our health and that of those around us. Vaccinating ourselves and our children is the first action to take while with the most vulnerable people, such as the elderly or the most destitute, we need to show and provide constant help. Practicing safe sex and staying well informed by always making smart and well-informed choices is another great practice to do. Raising awareness among people and our community about the importance in maintaining good health and good lifestyle is another key task. Calling on our government and local political leaders to make quick decisions in order to ensure and improve health access to as much of the population as possible is another honorable and essential commitment to pursue.
What can I do?
- …take care of my health and the health of others around me.
- …practice safe sex using condoms.
- …keep myself informed in order to make well-informed choices.
- …try to live and maintain an healthy lifestyle as better as possible.
- …try to consume or use as few products as possible that can harm myself, others and the environment.
- …simply, treat my body as well as possible.
