SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being

The third Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 3) aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. This ambitious goal encompasses a broad range of health targets designed to address major health priorities by 2030, ultimately enhancing global public health and reducing health disparities. 

Improving Maternal and Child Health, Combating Communicable Diseases, and Addressing Non-Communicable Diseases

SDG 3 includes specific targets to reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 live births and end preventable deaths of newborns and children under five years of age. Additionally, it seeks to combat epidemics of communicable diseases such as AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and neglected tropical diseases. It also aims to reduce mortality from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) by one-third through prevention, treatment, and promoting mental health and well-being. 

Advancing Universal Health Coverage and Environmental Health

One of the core targets is to achieve universal health coverage (UHC), 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. UHC is fundamental to ensuring that all individuals and communities receive the health services they need without suffering financial hardship. 

The goal also addresses critical factors influencing health, such as reducing deaths and injuries from road traffic accidents and ensuring universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services. It emphasizes strengthening the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol. To achieve these targets, SDG 3 calls for increased health financing, improved recruitment, development, training, and retention of the health workforce, particularly in developing countries. 

Environmental health is also a priority, with goals to reduce deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals, air, water, and soil pollution and contamination. Strengthening the capacity of all countries, especially developing ones, for early warning, risk reduction, and management of national and global health risks is also crucial. 

Achieving SDG 3 requires concerted efforts from governments, international organizations, and communities. It involves multisectoral collaboration, robust healthcare systems, and equitable access to health services to ensure that no one is left behind in the pursuit of health and well-being. 

WSA Winners for SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being