Sustainable Goal #3 – Good Health and Well-Being
Some vital ‘GoalTtargets’ include – Development and Universal access to affordable vaccines and medicines
- Reduce maternal mortality
- Reduce mortality from non-communicable diseases
- Support research, development and universal access to affordable vaccines and medicines
Before the pandemic, major progress was made in improving the health of millions of people. Significant progress has been made in increasing life expectancy and reducing some of the leading causes of child and maternal mortality. (UN, 2021). It was until the Pandemic existed and posed a global risk that has shaken the world to wake up for a critical need for “HEALTH EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS.” The opportunity of health emergency preparedness may have saved millions of lives if was efficient and persistent to meet the challenges of COVID-19. For instance, there were recommendations from World Health Organisations (WHO) for world leaders to consider in trying to sustain and make progress on well-being and good health of its citizens at all ages,(Sustainable Goal #3) such as;
- develop policy guidance for mitigating outbreaks when health system becomes overwhelmed
- Scale up support to frontline health workers.
- Communicate regularly to the public through trusted experts. Panic, fear and misinformation exacerbate preparedness and cost lives.
- Increase and sustain domestic and global preparedness investments.
More investment in vaccines, treatments and diagnostics is urgently needed if we are to have the best chance of saving lives and bringing this pandemic to an end. At least $8 billion is required to fund research, development and distribution of treatments for all, as well as support for public health measures in the poorest countries. (Wellcome, 2020).
Source : Wellcome, 2020.
Another example of increasing and sustaining domestic and global preparedness investments is from the Government of Bhutan. World Health Organisations (WHO) released an article for the world to learn a lesson from Bhutan which titled, “Invest in preparedness.” Bhutan’s zero deaths and zero infections among health workers and low overall infection rates and high patient recovery resulted from preparation. (WHO, 2020). A representative from Bhutan stated that the country’s record in the fight against Covid-19 was the result of diligent preparation and a timely response to the pandemic health emergency. Examples of preparation in Bhutan are setting up a health emergency operations centre as well as a WHO emergency operations centre in Bhutan. Also, preparation was investing in equipment such as medical camp kit (MCK) and tents. (WHO, 2020).
Another message to the world from the UN pointed out, “The pandemic represents a watershed moment for health emergency preparedness and for investment in critical 21st century public services.” (UN, 2021).
Some of the Global targets for increasing and sustaining well-being and good health sustainable goals put emphasis on development and universal access to affordable vaccines and medicines, reducing maternal mortality, reduce mortality from non-communicable diseases and support research, support research, development and universal access to affordable vaccines and medicines. (UN, 2017). In accordance with results from a review which indicated that patients with certain chronic illnesses such as diabetes and other chronic diseases are more likely to be affected by Covid-19. (Nikoloski., et al, 2021). Supporting and reinforcing the understanding of healthy, nutritious and diversified diets in communities increases the health of its members and lowers the occurrence of some nutrition related pre-existing conditions that have been shown to increase severity of symptoms caused by COVID-19, such as overweight and obesity potentially leading to diabetes type 2. (WHO, 2021). Back to well-being and good health of people at all ages from Covid-19 need government approach and all of society approach. Readiness and working together are more important than ever.
References ;
https://www.fao.org/3/cb3114en/cb3114en.pdf
https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/health/
https://reliefweb.int/report/world/expert-recommendations-us-and-global-preparedness-covid-19