SDG 3- GOOD HEALTH AND WELL BEING!

Health, as defined by World Health Organization, is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Poor health constitutes suffering and deprivation of the most fundamental kind. Over the years, significant strides have been made in increasing life expectancy and reducing some of the common killers associated with child and maternal mortality. Globally, the incidence of major infectious diseases has declined since 2000, including HIV/AIDS, malaria, and TB, but the challenge of these and new pandemics remains in many regions of the world. We have made immense progress globally in finding newer treatments, vaccines, and technologies for healthcare, but universal affordable access to healthcare remains a challenge.

Therefore, the international community, through Goal 3, has committed itself to a global effort to eradicate disease, strengthen treatment and healthcare, and address new and emerging health issues. It calls for innovation, and research in these areas to further enhance public policy efforts. A holistic approach to better health will require ensuring universal access to healthcare and to making medicine and vaccines affordable.  And finally, health and well-being are closely linked with the quality of our environment, and Goal 3 also aims to substantially reduce the numbers of deaths and illnesses caused by air, water, and soil pollution and contamination.

WHY HEALTH AS ONE OF THE GOALS?

Diseases not only impact individual life and well being, but it burdens family and public resources, weakens societies and have huge repercussions on their potential and productivity. The health and well-being of people at all ages, therefore lies at the heart of sustainable development. Protection from disease is not only fundamental to survival, but it enables opportunity for everyone and strengthens economic growth and prosperity.

Let’s see some figures to understand the importance of Health and Well-Being: -

·        Each year globally 6 million children dies even before reaching the age of five.

·        Children born into poverty are almost twice as likely to die before the age of five than those who were born in the wealthier family.

·        16,000 children around the world die each day from preventable diseases such as measles and tuberculosis.

·        Measles vaccine have averted nearly 15.6 million deaths since the year 2000.

·        Globally, almost 12 per cent of the world’s population (over 800 million people) spent at least one tenth of their household budgets to pay for health services in 2010.

• In 2016, household and outdoor air pollution led to some 7 million deaths worldwide.

·        Unsafe drinking water, unsafe sanitation and lack of hygiene continue to be major contributors to global mortality, resulting in about 870,000 deaths in 2016. 

INDIA AND SDG GOAL 3

The Constitution of India makes healthcare in India the responsibility of the state governments. It makes every state responsible for raising the level of nutrition and the standard of living of its people and improvement of public health one of its primary duties. India’s population as per 2011 stands at 1.21 billion and there are great differences in health between different states. The infant mortality rate of Kerala is 6 per 1000 live birth whereas in Uttar Pradesh is 64. India’s expenditure on healthcare was merely 1.4% of its GDP in 2017 which has apparently increased from its meager 1.2% of its GDP in 2013-2014.

FACTS AND FIGURES

·         In 2018, the life expectancy at birth is said to be 69.1 years which is increased from 67.9 years in 2010-2014.

·        India’s infant mortality rate is 32 deaths per 1000 live birth in 2017, compared to the global average of 12.

·        From 2006-2016, stunting rates for children under 5 declined by almost 10% in India.

·        A quarter of TB global cases occur in India with almost 2.1 million people suffering from the disease.

·        Around 25 lakh people dying in India due to pollution.

India has played an important role in shaping the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Therefore, it is no surprise that the country’s national development goals are mirrored in the SDGs. For implementing the SDG agenda, the Government of India has launched several ambitious programs, some of which are highlighted below.

• The National Health Policy, 2017, specifies targets for universalizing primary health care, reducing infant and under-5 mortality, preventing premature deaths due to non-communicable diseases as well as increasing Government expenditure on health.

·        Several initiatives are also taken in order to improve the quality of health. These includes the development of the composite index and an award for ensuring a hygienic environment in Government health facilities.

• To tackle the death of children due to vaccine-preventable diseases and the risk due to incomplete immunization, the Government is aiming to provide vaccination against diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, tuberculosis, polio, measles and hepatitis to all unimmunized or partially immunized children by 2020.
• As a step towards achieving universal health coverage, the Government of India has announced a health insurance cover to the tune of INR 100,000 (USD 1,563) for families below the poverty line.

·        90-90-90 program- an ambitious treatment initiative by the Government of India to end aids epidemic.

These steps help India in making progress in reducing its maternal mortality rate, infant mortality rate, prevalence of HIV and AIDS among different types of high-risk categories and also in eliminating polio. However, these initiatives were not enough as a staggering 68% people still lives in rural areas with no or limited access to hospitals and clinics. There is a lack of skilled medical graduates in India specially in rural areas due to financial reasons. Sadly, only a small percentage of the population has access to quality sanitation and clean drinking water, which further destroy the health of the India’s population. In recent years a new problem started affecting the health of India – pollution. As per reports India has 9 out of 10 most polluted cities of the world which is turning to be a major challenge for the government to handle. One of the most neglected area in Indian healthcare system is the mental healthcare where reports suggests 8 lakh suicide every year takes place in India.

With the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals and the effort of the world community many more people today are living healthier life than in the past decades. Nevertheless, people are still suffering needlessly from preventable diseases, and too many are dying prematurely. Overcoming disease and ill health will require concerted and sustained efforts, focusing on population groups and regions that have been neglected. Developing countries like India can improve their healthcare system and well beings by developing a holistic approach in dealing with problems like sanitation, clean environment and water, access to healthcare system for all and providing opportunities as well as facilities to medical practitioners in the rural areas.