Brief Summary
This video explains Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG3), which focuses on ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all ages. It highlights existing disparities in healthcare access, the impact of diseases like malaria and tuberculosis, and the importance of maternal health and vaccination. The video also discusses the setbacks caused by the COVID-19 crisis and provides examples of countries making progress toward universal healthcare. Finally, it suggests actions individuals can take to support SDG3, such as spreading awareness, advocating for vulnerable populations, and donating to relevant organizations.
- SDG3 aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.
- Progress has slowed due to the COVID-19 crisis, with resurgences in diseases like tuberculosis and malaria.
- Individuals can contribute by spreading awareness, advocating for vulnerable populations, and donating to organizations.
Introduction
Medical innovations have improved global health, but their benefits are unequally distributed. Half the world's population lacks access to essential health services, and many struggle to afford them. Progress in combating major diseases like malaria and tuberculosis has slowed. Maternal mortality has declined overall, but women in sub-Saharan Africa have significantly less access to skilled birth attendants, increasing their mortality risk. In 2017, only 67% of people had the necessary measles vaccines. To address these disparities and improve global health, the United Nations has set forth SDG3.
The Goal
SDG3 aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. This involves addressing various health challenges and ensuring that everyone, regardless of age or location, has the opportunity to live a healthy life.
Targets and Indicators
SDG3 includes 13 targets, such as reducing the global maternal mortality ratio to under 70 per 100,000 live births by 2030 and ending the spread of communicable diseases like HIV and hepatitis. Other targets focus on preventing and treating substance abuse, promoting mental health, achieving universal health coverage, and helping countries prepare for global health risks.
What’s Already Being Done
Progress is being made in many target areas, but the rate has slowed, especially due to the COVID-19 crisis, which led to resurgences in diseases like tuberculosis and malaria, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. As of 2020, the current rate of improvement is insufficient to meet the targets. However, some countries like Denmark and the Netherlands provide almost entirely free healthcare for all registered citizens. In 2014, less than 0.2% of the Netherlands' population was without insurance, and in the following year, the Netherlands publicly financed 77% of all curative health services. While the Netherlands provides more benefits than most countries, it does not guarantee healthcare services to undocumented immigrants.
Applying It: How Everyone Can Help
Individuals can help the world meet SDG3 by spreading the message about health for all through social media and educating themselves online. Advocate for people who are least likely to have access to healthcare, such as migrants, low-income communities, and people of color. You can also donate to organizations like Doctors Without Borders, which provides medical assistance to those affected by extreme circumstances or excluded from healthcare, or the National Immigration Law Center, which helps give immigrants access to healthcare.
