Written By: Poluk Sharma
Edited by: Sakura Kojima
The United Nations’ third global goal for 2030, “Good Health and Well-Being” appears to be a simple one on the surface, but is an incredibly broad issue. Targets for promoting good health and well-being for all within the next ten years includes reducing maternal mortality, preventing and treating substance abuse, reducing road traffic injuries and deaths, achieving universal health coverage, reducing the health issues caused by pollution, and supporting the research, development, and distribution of affordable vaccines, to name a few. In this sense, goal 3 is as much a social and political issue as it is a medical one.
COVID 19 and The Goal
As the greatest global health crisis in recent history, COVID-19 has undoubtedly had a large impact on the “Good Health and Well-Being” of the world. Before COVID, we were making significant progress towards decreasing child and maternal mortality, as well as life expectancy. Unfortunately, due to the spread of the virus, life expectancy has since decreased for the first time in many years. In addition to physical health, mental health concerns have become an even more important topic to consider during the pandemic as daily stress levels rise and people feel more isolated.
Is It Possible?
The negative effects of COVID do not make the goal impossible to reach, however. In fact, the incredible progress made before the pandemic serves as proof that good health and well-being for all can be achieved. Although progress on many aspects of the goal has slowed in recent years, global goals.org states that “Over the last 15 years, the number of childhood deaths has been cut in half”, proving that “it is possible to win the fight against almost every disease.” The goals’ website also highlights the importance of preventative care and proper distribution of health resources in this mission if we want to save the lives of over 10 million children in the next 10 years, as the United Nations says is possible. It will be difficult, but we can support good health and well-being for all - we just have to make the right choices.
What Can We Do?
The coronavirus is currently the world’s largest obstacle
to making progress in almost all 17 goals. Thank the health
workers in your community for the critical care they
provide and the difficult work they do. Do your part to
end the pandemic and get the COVID vaccine if you haven’t
already. People who receive the vaccine are better protected
against serious illness caused by the disease and less likely
to pass it on. Also, continue to wash your hands regularly;
social distance and wear masks when in public places as the CDC
recommends. It may not seem like much, but these simple actions
make all the difference.
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