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Achieving good health and well-being for all allows movement in completing all other goals. The possibility of a successful, forward-looking society simply isn’t possible if the people within it aren't healthy or have access to adequate healthcare.

This goal addresses major health priorities including “reproductive, maternal, and child health; communicable, non-communicable and environmental diseases; universal health coverage; and access for all to safe, effective, quality and affordable medicines and vaccines. It also calls for more research and development, increased health financing, and a strengthened capacity for all countries in health risk reduction and management.” One major health crisis that comes to everyone’s mind is COVID-19. Progress in many health areas is endangered by the ongoing threat of the pandemic. The poorest countries are the most affected due to insufficient healthcare facilities, limited access to medical supplies, and few healthcare workers.

With the continual presence of COVID-19 and the spread of new variants, it is of critical importance that countries establish comprehensive health strategies and increase spending and dedication to research and health systems. This will require global cooperation and support to help areas that lack sufficient funding and access to fundamental healthcare resources. Healthcare aid will always be a necessity as long as humans are living on this earth. Whether it be tackling current health crises or ensuring healthy living for all, health is an essential part of reaching these sustainable development goals.

Targets & Indicators

When the UN General Assembly introduced the Sustainable Development Goals in 2015, they listed the targets that needed to meet for each goal. These targets break down what needs to be achieved to consider the goal completed. The UN Statistical Commission created the IAEG (International Agency and Expert Group) in 2017, which was tasked with creating the “indicators” for each target. These indicators were created to put measures in place to track the process being made on each target.

Targets and indicators were developed by the UN as a working blueprint for nations, organizations, and people to use when implementing SDGs in their everyday actions. Looking to the targets for the respected goal is the best way to execute the use of them in your work.

3.1

By 2030, reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 live births.
Indicators
  1. 3.1.1 Maternal Mortality Ratio
  2. 3.1.2 Proportion of Births Attended by Skilled Health Personnel

3.2

By 2030, end preventable deaths of newborns and children under five years of age, with all countries aiming to reduce neonatal mortality to as low as 12 per 1,000 live births and under-five mortality to as low as 25 per 1,000 live births.
Indicators
  1. 3.2.1 Under-Five Mortality Rate
  2. 3.2.2 Neonatal Mortality Rate

3.3

By 2030, end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and neglected tropical diseases and combat hepatitis, water-borne diseases, and other communicable diseases.
Indicators
  1. 3.3.1 Number of New HIV Infections per 1,000 Uninfected Population, by Sex, Age, and Key Populations
  2. 3.3.2 Tuberculosis Incidence per 1,000 People
  3. 3.3.3 Malaria Incidence per 1,000 People
  4. 3.3.4 Hepatitis B Incidence per 100,000 People
  5. 3.3.5 Number of People Requiring Interventions Against Neglected Tropical Diseases

3.4

By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.
Indicators
  1. 3.4.1 Mortality Rate Attributed to Cardiovascular Disease, Cancer, Diabetes, or Chronic Respiratory Disease
  2. 3.4.2 Suicide Mortality Rate

3.5

Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol.
Indicators
  1. 3.5.1 Coverage of Treatment Interventions (Pharmacological, Psychosocial, and Rehabilitation and Aftercare Services) for Substance Use Disorders
  2. 3.5.2 Harmful Use of Alcohol, Defined According to the National Context as Alcohol per Capita Consumption (Aged 15 Years and Older) Within a Calendar Year in Liters of Pure Alcohol

3.6

By 2020, half the number of global deaths and injuries from road traffic accidents.
Indicators
  1. 3.6.1 Death Rate Due to Road Traffic Injuries

3.7

By 2030, ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive healthcare services, including family planning, information and education, and the integration of reproductive health into national strategies and programs.
Indicators
  1. 3.7.1 Proportion of Women of Reproductive Age (Aged 15-49 Years) Who Have Their Need for Family Planning Satisfied with Modern Methods
  2. 3.7.2 Adolescent Birth Rate (Aged 10-14 Years; Aged 15-19 Years) per 1,000 Women in That Age Group

3.8

Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential healthcare services and access to safe, effective, and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all.
Indicators
  1. 3.8.1 Coverage of Essential Health Services (Defined as the Average Coverage of Essential Services Based on Tracer Interventions That Include Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health, Infectious Diseases, Non-Communicable Diseases, and Service Capacity and Access Among the General and the Most Disadvantaged Population
  2. 3.8.2 Proportion of Population with Large Household Expenditures on Health as a Share of Total Household Expenditure or Income

3.9

By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution, and contamination.
Indicators
  1. 3.9.1 Mortality Rate Attributed to Household and Ambient Air Pollution
  2. 3.9.2 Mortality Rate Attributed to Unsafe Water, Unsafe Sanitation, and Lack of Hygiene (Exposure to Unsafe Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for All (WASH) Services)
  3. 3.9.3 Mortality Rate Attributed to Unintentional Poisoning

3.a

Strengthen the implementation of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in all countries, as appropriate.
Indicators
  1. 3.a.1 Age-Standardized Prevalence of Current Tobacco Use Among Persons Aged 15 Years and Older

3.b

Support the research and development of vaccines and medicines for the communicable and non-communicable diseases that primarily affect developing countries, provide access to affordable essential medicines and vaccines, in accordance with the Doha Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health, which affirms the right of developing countries to use to the full the provisions in the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights regarding flexibilities to protect public health, and provide access to medicines for all.
Indicators
  1. 3.b.1 Proportion of the Target Population Covered by All Vaccines Included in Their National Programs
  2. 3.b.2 Total Net Official Development Assistance to Medical Research and Basic Health Sectors
  3. 3.b.3 Proportion of Health Facilities That Have a Core Set of Relevant Essential Medicines Available and Affordable on a Sustainable Basis

3.c

Substantially increase health financing and the recruitment, development, training, and retention of the health workforce in developing countries, especially in least developed countries and small island developing states.
Indicators
  1. 3.c.1 Health Worker Density and Distribution

3.d

Strengthen the capacity of all countries, especially developing countries, for risk reduction and management of national and global health risks.
Indicators
  1. 3.d.1 International Health Regulations (IHR) Capacity and Health Emergency Preparedness
  2. 3.d.2 Percentage of Bloodstream Infections Due to Selected Antimicrobial-Resistant Organisms

Additional Resources

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