Goal 3

The biggest asset towards a developed and a progressive world is a healthy, fully functioning Human. The word health, outlined by the World Health Organization (WHO), is “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” A fit person can contribute more towards sustainable development and hence is the third goal of ‘Sustainable Development Goals’.

 The goal is officially stated as “ensures healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages”. The goal aims to tackle various issues, which tend to go unnoticed by most. People neglect their health more than they should, and because of this, the rates are rising alarmingly. This goal wouldn’t be as easy to achieve as it is perceived to be. Emerging health issues such as antimicrobial resistance, which are not the part of global health priority as of now, also begs for attention.  According to a study done recently, every 20 seconds a person aged 30 – 70 years uncommonly die from noncommunicable diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer or diabetes. We say we live in a progressed world, a world with uncountable upcoming technologies, a world where machines are replacing human at their workplaces, however with these distressing facts and figures, that time isn’t far away when robots will actually replace humans altogether. Moreover, there are still at least 400 million people who lack basic health services. Apart from this, mental health shouldn’t be ignored either. It is said that one in every three women go through PTSD (Post Trauma Stress Disorder) after going through a traumatic case of harassment. These issues need to be addressed immediately.

Well, its not all dark and saddening. Over the past years, there has been a commendable improvement as well. The infant mortality rate has reduced remarkably in India, as well as South Asia, 74 per 1,000 live births to 37 per 1,000 live births from 1994 to 2015, to be precise. In 2018, studies show, the life expectancy of an average Indian is 69.1 years. Coming from a number of 49.7 years back in the 1970s. The goal designed incorporates a target of reducing maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 live births. Another target is to end the roots of AIDS, Tuberculosis and all these neglected diseases by 2030. These were one of many targets that come under this umbrella. It won’t be easy to complete this goal but by the rate its going by, it isn’t impossible either, all it needs is a consistent effort put in by every nation, every community and every person.