SDG 3: ENSURE HEALTHY LIVES & PROMOTE WELLBEING FOR ALL AT ALL STAGES
Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3) is one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) established by the United Nations in 2015. The goal is to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
VARIOUS ASPECTS OF THE GOAL
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development reflects this complexity, addressing various aspects:
- Economic and Social Inequalities: Disparities in health outcomes are often tied to economic and social inequalities. Poorer populations face higher risks of poor health, which can perpetuate cycles of poverty and hinder overall development.
- Urbanization: Rapid urban growth can strain health systems and infrastructure, leading to challenges such as inadequate healthcare access, environmental hazards, and increased disease transmission.
- Climate and Environmental Threats: Environmental degradation and climate change impact health by affecting clean water access, air quality, and the prevalence of disease vectors.
- Infectious Diseases: Persistent challenges like HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria continue to burden global health systems.
- Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs): The rise in NCDs such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer requires significant attention and resources for prevention and treatment.
- Mental Health: There’s a growing recognition of the need to address mental health issues alongside physical health.
SDG 3 Targets:
RECENT PROGRESS & CHALLENGES
- Under-5 Mortality: As of recent reports, 146 out of 200 countries are meeting or on track to meet the target for reducing under-5 mortality rates.
- HIV/AIDS: Effective treatments have reduced AIDS-related deaths globally by 52% since 2010.
- Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs): At least one NTD has been eliminated in 47 countries.
Ongoing Challenges:
- COVID-19 Impact: The pandemic disrupted health systems globally, causing setbacks in immunization programs and leading to increased deaths from diseases like tuberculosis and malaria.
- Health Inequalities: Significant disparities in healthcare access persist, especially affecting vulnerable and marginalized populations.
SDG 3 & INDIA
SDG India Index Score:
- States: Scores range from 56 to 90.
- Union Territories (UTs): Scores range from 65 to 93.
- Top Performers: Gujarat (States) and Delhi (UTs).
- Front Runners: 23 States and 8 UTs achieved scores between 65 and 100.
- Performers: 5 States are categorized as Performers.
KEY INDICATORS & ACHIEVEMENTS
1. Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR):
- Current Ratio: 97 per 100,000 live births.
- Target: Less than 70 per 100,000 live births by 2030.
- Top Performers: Kerala, Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand, Gujarat, Karnataka.
2. Under-5 Mortality Rate:
- Current Rate: 32 per 1,000 live births (2018–2020).
- Target: 25 per 1,000 live births by 2030.
- Top Performers: Kerala (8 per 1,000 live births), 9 States and 2 UTs have achieved the target.
- Immunization Coverage:
- Current Coverage:23% (2023–2024).
- Top Performers: Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Mizoram, Maharashtra, Lakshadweep, Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi.
- Tuberculosis Notification:
- Current Notification Rate:13% (2023).
- Top Performers: Gujarat (101.27%), Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
- HIV Incidence:
- Current Incidence:05 per 1,000 uninfected population (2019–2022).
- Top Performers: Kerala (0.01), Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh among UTs.
- Life Expectancy:
- Current Life Expectancy: 70 years.
- Top Performers: Delhi (75.8 years), Kerala (75 years).
- Suicide Rate:
- Current Rate: 12 per 100,000 population (2022).
- Top Performers: Bihar (1 per 100,000 population).
- Road Traffic Accidents:
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- Current Rate: 12 per 100,000 population (2022).
- Top Performers: Meghalaya, Manipur, Nagaland, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep.
- Institutional Deliveries:
- Current Rate:18% (2023–2024).
- Top Performer: Lakshadweep (100%).
- Out-of-Pocket Medical Expenditure:
- Lowest Expenditure: Chhattisgarh (6.6% of MPCE).
- Highest Expenditure: Kerala, Arunachal Pradesh, Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir.
- Health Worker Density:
- Current Density: 49 health workers per 10,000 population (2019).
- Top Performers: Kerala (03 per 10,000), Delhi (79.04 per 10,000).
GOVT. INITIATIVES
- National Health Mission (NHM):
- Objective: Improve access to affordable, quality healthcare, especially for rural populations and vulnerable groups. Focuses on public health services related to women’s health, child health, sanitation, and nutrition.
- Ayushman Bharat Health Insurance Scheme:
- Objective: Provide free healthcare services to the poor and underprivileged, covering serious illnesses for approximately 500 million people.
- National Programme for Health Care for the Elderly (NPHCE):
- Objective: Offer specialized healthcare for the elderly, including outreach services.
- Immunization Efforts:
- Progress: Significant achievements in vaccines against diseases like measles, polio, and tetanus. The COVID-19 vaccination program covered over 90% of the population.
- Malaria Eradication:
- Objective: Reduce malaria incidence and deaths. Achievements include a 24% reduction in malaria cases from 2016 to 2017 and a 28% reduction from 2017 to 2018.
- Tobacco Control Measures:
- Objective: Reduce tobacco use through the National Tobacco Control Program, including measures like taxation, advertising restrictions, and health warnings.
- Promoting Health Awareness:
- Objective: Improve rural health through various programs focusing on water management, agriculture, and nutrition.
- The E-Poshan Kendra project provides information on nutrition, health, and sanitation, and organizes vaccination drives.
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