UN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
GOAL NO 3: GOOD HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
United Nation Sustainable Development Goal number 3 which is good health and well-being is
all about to make sure that we are living healthy lives and promote well-being for all people of
any age. The goal focus on preventing lives than to prevent the disease is supported but it is
highly overambitious to achieve the goal due to its current operationalization in the world.
Goal 3 is the most specific goal of the united nation development sustainable goals that has
measurable targets. The positive feature of this goal is that it’s for both the developed countries
and developing countries. The goal 3 is complementary to other goals which is the unique thing
about this goal. For example the social schemes in goal 1 includes health and well-being. Health
is important to get education. Education is the 4th of goal of sustainable development program
which cant achieved without good health. Goal number 6 is complementary to goal number 3 in
a way that without drinking safe water health cannot be better and pure water is a need for
everyone. Goal no 8 which is to increase economic well-being is related to goal number 3 in a
way that more employment opportunities will result in economic stability which will result in
purchasing of health services easily which is important for health and well-being.
The goal number 3 of sustainable development program have eight main targets out of which 3
focuses on reducing death rates than focusing on the diseases. These targets are target 1 4 and 6.
Target 1
The target states that the maternal mortality rate ratio should be reduced to 70 per 100,000 births
by 2030.The problem with maternal mortality ratio is that their results are highly unreliable. So
the indicator of skilled birth attendance along with MRRs should be introduced for the better
results. Many countries lack the system of death and birth registration. So the introduction of the
birth and death registration would be preferable.
Target 2
This target requires that by 2030 the deaths of the children under the age of 5 should be
prevented. The most important thing about this target is its highly ambitious but it is to make
sure that the under developed countries are not left behind when achieving this target. Because
children in African countries die more than the children in the developed countries.
Target 3
Target 3 is about limiting the spread of diseases like Tuberculosis, aids and other dangerous
diseases. The target is highly ambitious as its working on the diseases that are life threatening
and needed to be treated quickly so less people will die because of these diseases. But the
problem is that there have been 25 diseases stated in the target 3 and target 4 combine which can
be too costly to measure. It will be crucial to ensure that poor countries are not left alone with
their limited resources to deal with this task.
Target 4
This target stated that that the pre mature mortality by non-communicable diseases should be
reduced by one third by 2030.The problem with this target is that it’s likely unachievable by
2030 because of the one third ratio and the number of diseases that have to measured. But it does
not mean we should not pursue the target. The only thing is to make sure poor countries are part
of this target and are not left behind. The use of HALE indicator should be implemented.
Target 5
This target requires to strengthen the treatment of drug abuse that results from narcotic drugs and
the harmful use of alcohol. This is the target of this goal in which the ambition is not clear. The
government of the countries should at national take steps to prevent substance abuse. The
governments should provide people with rehab centers so they can go there and get treatment.
The measurement is difficult because substance abuse happens mostly off the record.
Target 6
This target requires to halves the deaths that are caused by road accidents. This goal is more
focused on reducing death rates than focusing on the diseases. The year set to achieve this tarter
is 2020 which impossible because many steps have to be taken. But still it does not mean we
don’t have to pursue the target. The government should implement traffic rules and heavy fines
so people do not violate the traffic especially in the under developed and developing countries.
The IAEG-SDGs’ considered indicator “Number of road traffic fatal injury deaths per 100 000
population” is a highly relevant proxy but fails to register injuries from road traffic accidents.
Target 7
This target requires that the people are given universal access to sexual and reproductive health
care services by 2030. One of the two indicators currently considered by the IAEG-SDGs, the
“Adolescent birth rate”, is an important indicator to keep track of unwanted adolescent
pregnancies. The other indicator, “Percentage of women of reproductive age who have their need
for family planning satisfied with modern methods”, would be better suited to measure these
access opportunities but is difficult to measure.
WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP
Well we have to start by ourselves by maintaining our health and making safe choices like good
food safe and other useful measures. We can encourage people in our community to make
healthy choices so that they can live happily. We can also spread awareness my giving lectures
in schools, colleges and universities so our message can conveyed to a wider audience.
