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SDG 3

This goal has become especially relevant following the pandemic, but was well on its way toward completion even before it struck. It mainly focuses on three factors: maternal & child health, HIV/AIDS and malaria, with some mention of preparedness for global health crises. 

 

There are nine targets:

  • Reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100 000 live births
  • End preventable deaths of newborns and children under five 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-five mortality to at least as low as 25 per 1 000 live births
  • End the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases and combat hepatitis, water-borne diseases and other communicable diseases 
  • Reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health well-being
  • Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol
  • By 2020, halve the the number of global deaths and injuries resulting from road traffic accidents
  • 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
  • Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality health-care services and access to safe, effective, quality and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all 
  • Substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination 

 

What does it mean and what can we do?

This goal covers many different aspects of what “health” can mean, including mental health, however, the focus remains mostly on physical diseases. In short, the goal is to increase life-expectancy by eliminating factors such as disease, injuries and early childhood deaths, with a special focus on the big diseases (HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, etc). 

You can best impact this goal through supporting not only projects that research these illnesses, but also projects that bring healthcare to remote and poor areas and those that bring reproductive education services.