SDG 3 - Good health and wellbeing explained

✍️ Article written by Peter Gringinger, sustainability expert and facilitator of the SDGs Multipliers Online Training course, by Gaia Education.

Hi #sustainability champions, today we continue our  journey exploring the individual SDGs one by one to polish our knowledge and upskill in SDG learning. As mentioned before we send out a post approximately once or twice weekly until we have gone through all 17 SDGs. Today we tackle  SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being.

You can follow or connect with us and see what we have to offer related to upscaling your change maker abilities (of tools and training) on our SDG toolkit webpages. ✔

So let’s explore Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3), also known as  "Good Health and Well-being" in a concise manner suitable for learning.

What is SDG 3?

SDG 3 aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. It focuses on various aspects of health, from reducing mortality rates to combating diseases and ensuring universal health coverage.

Why does it matter? 

Good health and well-being are essential for sustainable development and are of great concern in any country. A healthier population lives longer, is more productive, and can participate more. Challenges like non-communicable diseases, mental health, but also substance abuse or exposure to chemicals, and global health risks like pandemics highlight the need for strong, high quality, accessible and affordable health systems. 

Achieving SDG 3 is crucial because as for example the WHO defines it as ‘"Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity."; it's about ensuring that all people have continuous access to a high quality health system, which supports their physical, mental, emotional and social  health and wellbeing in all stages of life. This is the fundamental goal to human well-being and is a crucial building block for other SDGs.  Hence it is clear that healthy lives of wellbeing for all ages  is a multifaceted and multidimensional complex issue from the global to the local and affects each and everyone of us and is about prevention, treatment as well as management of sickness, disease and health issues.

In this very large and complex SDG the number and trends of mortality (with emphasis on maternal and young children) are very often cited. Historical trends show us there have been significant increases in global life expectancy over the last two centuries, reflecting improvements around the world. Notably, poorer countries have made considerable progress, which has helped reduce the global disparity in life expectancy. But substantial gaps remain, with life expectancies in some Sub-Saharan African countries below 60 years, in contrast to over 80 years in several European countries and Japan. Despite these advancements, disparities persist — child mortality rates in low-income countries are substantially higher than those in high-income countries. This pattern extends to other health measures, including disease burden estimates, indicating ongoing global health challenges. A growing body of research highlights the effectiveness of healthcare investments in improving health outcomes. Evidence shows that health outcomes respond positively to increased healthcare spending, particularly at lower levels of expenditure, something which is particularly the case again for sub-saharan African countries, which fare the worst in many health related outcomes. 

Nevertheless, also as an outcome of the COVID pandemic a number of health related indicators are going backwards or stagnating (e.g. maternal mortality),  show marginal progress only if at all  (e.g. communicable disease, reproductive health or mental health), moderate progress (e.g. child mortality, immunisation coverage) all of which would need significant acceleration if the SDG 3 targets should be reached by 2030, particularly in the lowest income countries, where health care coverage is weak, a target which is also stagnating. But similarly other indicators also affect all countries, like non-communicable disease, mental health, substance abuse, traffic accidents, pollution and providing for a healthy workforce are either stagnating or have at best moderate progress, all far insufficient to reach the targets by 2030.  

Some data:

• The global maternal mortality ratio marginally declined from 227 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births in 2015 to 223 in 2020. Reaching the global maternal mortality rate target of 70 per 100,00 live births will require an annual rate of reduction of 11.6% between 2021 and 2030. Two regions, subSaharan Africa and Southern Asia, accounted for around 87% (249,000) of the estimated global maternal deaths in 2020
• Global drug-related treatment coverage has decreased from approximately 11% in 2015 to under 9% in 2022. Alarmingly, treatment coverage for women consistently lags behind that for men across all regions
• The proportion of women of reproductive age (aged 15-49 years) who have their need for family planning satisfied with modern methods increased slightly from 76.5% to 77.6% between 2015 and 2024
• The proportion of the population not covered by essential health services decreased by about 15% between 2000 and 2021, with minimal progress made after 2015. In 2021, about four and a half billion people were not covered by essential health services
• While a recent study shows that the projected global shortage of health workers by 2030 has reduced from 18 million to 10 million, the aging of the population induces an increased health need and further widens this gap. An additional 1.8 million health workers are needed in fifty-four countries (mostly from high-income countries) just to maintain the current age-standardised density of health workers

Key Targets and Indicators

SDG 3 has 13 targets and 28 indicators to measure progress, and is therefore one of the very large and diverse SDGs. Some of the main targets summarised include (if you want to know the exact lengthy wording in the Agenda 2030 you should have a look here):

• Reduce maternal and child mortality
• Ending epidemics like AIDS, tuberculosis or malaria
• Reduce mortality from non-communicable diseases and promote mental health
• Achieving access universal and affordable health coverage including affordable medications and vaccines as well as financing of health care and its workforce.
• Prevent and manage substance abuse (including narcotics, alcohol but also tobacco)
• Half the number of fatalities and injuries due to traffic accidents
• Achieve universal access to sexual and reproductive care, including education
• Significantly reduce fatalities and injuries due to chemical exposure and pollution
• Implement tobacco control and provide affordable access to vaccines and medicines

Challenges and Progress 

Over the last 15 years, the number of childhood deaths has been cut in half. This proves that it is possible to win the fight against almost every disease. Still, we are spending an astonishing amount of money and resources on treating illnesses that are surprisingly easy to prevent. The goal for worldwide Good Health promotes healthy lifestyles, preventive measures and modern, efficient healthcare for everyone. As statistics show progress on health and well-being has seen improvements in some areas, but especially due to COVID-19 and deteriorating geopolitical and economic tensions and issues have resulted in some areas going backwards in recent years and many aspects/targets of this goal have been tackled insufficiently  in an appreciable manner,  with enormous regional differences,  and one could argue that some of the main issues are related to a lack of funding and resources for adequate health care, but also a lack of sufficient and appropriate laws and regulations in other areas (e.g. pollution control, sanitation, on substance abuse), which are largely related to many other SDGs (e.g. SDG 1 poverty and SDG 2 hunger as well as SDG 6 sanitation) and their lack of sufficient progress in achievements, hence efforts must continue and be significantly accelerated to address persistent and emerging health issues.

‘A universal health care system is not just a medical issue. It is a question of equality. It is a question of equity. It is a question of priorities’ Alaa Murabit, UN Envoy for the SDGs

Overall the latest UN SDG progress report on SDG 3 shows either stagnation (maternal mortality, health coverage) or at best marginal (diseases, & mental health, accidents, reproductive health, healthy workforce,)  to moderate progress (child mortality, substance abuse, tobacco control, immunisation coverage), overall way off track to reach the targets by 2030, and certainly significant acceleration is required on many SDG 3 targets, with a particular focus on sub-saharan Africa. More than half the world’s population is not covered by essential health services, while an ageing health workforce must now meet growing demands from an ageing population. Almost 1 billion people need to spend more than 10% of their income on health related expenditure driving more than 100 million people into poverty annually. Ensuring universal health coverage without financial hardship is crucial to healthy lives and well-being for all. Changing course requires prioritising the achievement of universal health coverage, strengthening health systems, investing in disease prevention and treatment, and addressing disparities in access to care and services, especially for vulnerable populations. 

If you would like to know more about where your country currently stands with SDG 3 (and all other SDGs), you can check out the latest Sustainable Development Report - Country Profiles (as well as Rankings, Interactive Maps and a Data Explorer), and additional visual presentations available on Our World in Data. 

A health generating approach to medicine and health recognises that communities with strong social cohesion are more resilient and individuals are more able to recover from illness. Many communicable and non- communicable diseases can be prevented or at least managed through appropriate lifestyle choices and social factors are key influencers on lifestyle choices. 

Health is still too often defined as the absence of disease or illness. A more holistic understanding of health as an emergent property of the dynamics within complex socio-ecological systems offers an overall guidance framework for policy making as the basis for social, economic and ecological regeneration. Many diseases related to substance abuse and addictions are ultimately symptoms of a deeper lack of meaning in a consumer society. 

A clean environment is essential for human health and well-being. On the other hand, air and water pollution as well as poor management of hazardous chemicals and waste contribute to undermining health. Natural disasters and environmental shocks can have substantial impact on health, including deaths, injuries, diseases, disabilities, psychosocial problems and other indirect effects with damage to health facilities and disruption to the delivery of health services over extended periods of time.

How can we achieve good health and well-being for all ? 

Like other SDGs, also SDG 3 as a very large and diverse goal would require a multifaceted and multi-dimensional approach, but in general SDG 3  is one of the complex and tightly interconnected (with other) SDGs to tackle which will require transformations on many levels like poverty, hunger, equality, education, social protection, access to water and sanitation, decent work and more, particularly for vulnerable and disadvantaged peoples and countries.Some of the more higher level (and often global to national) aspects of achieving SDG 3 would probably include in summary (but not be limited to) something like the following and because SDG 3 is such an essential and far reaching SDG, the list is a bit lengthier::

• Strengthening health systems: Expand access to affordable, quality health care for all, including marginalized populations. Eliminate financial barriers to health services, such as out-of-pocket costs for essential services and medicines through more efficient funding.. Strengthen health systems and ensure adequate health infrastructure in rural and underserved areas.
• Maternal and Child Health: Implement policies to reduce maternal and child mortality, including access to skilled birth attendants, prenatal care, and postnatal services. Improve access to family planning services to support reproductive health. Provide universal access to vaccines and nutrition programs to prevent childhood diseases and malnutrition.
• Mental Health Support: Integrate mental health services into primary health care systems. Increase public awareness of mental health issues and reduce stigma surrounding mental health. Provide accessible and affordable mental health services, especially in crisis situations.
• Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) Prevention: Implement policies to reduce the prevalence of NCDs such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer, and respiratory diseases. Promote healthy lifestyles through public health campaigns focused on nutrition, physical activity, and reducing tobacco and alcohol use. Regulate unhealthy food and beverage marketing, especially to children.
• Infectious Disease Control: Strengthen public health systems to prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease outbreaks. Invest in vaccines, diagnostic tools, and treatment options for diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. Support global health initiatives for the prevention and eradication of pandemics.
• Environmental Health: Ensure clean air, water, and sanitation through investments in environmental health infrastructure. Address the health impacts of climate change, such as heatwaves, air pollution, and vector-borne diseases. Enforce regulations on chemicals, pollutants, and waste management to protect public health.
• Health Education and Promotion: Implement public health education campaigns on healthy lifestyles, including diet, exercise, and disease prevention. Provide accurate and timely information on health risks and available services, especially during crises. Foster health literacy among populations to empower individuals to make informed health choices.
• Access to Medicines and Vaccines: Ensure access to affordable and quality medicines and vaccines for all. Strengthen national pharmaceutical policies and supply chains to guarantee availability, especially for essential medicines. Support global initiatives to increase vaccine access in low-income countries.
• Health Workforce: Strengthening Increase investment in the training, recruitment, and retention of healthcare workers, especially in rural areas. Provide continuous professional development and support for health workers. Ensure fair pay and working conditions to maintain a motivated healthcare workforce.
• Social Determinants of Health: Address the social, economic, and environmental factors that affect health, such as poverty, education, housing, and employment. Implement social protection policies to reduce inequalities in access to health care and health outcomes. Promote policies that reduce income inequality and improve the living conditions of disadvantaged populations.

There is certainly also overwhelming evidence that more unequal societies are also less healthy societies . The long-term costs of diseases of affluence like obesity or often many forms of cardio-vascular diseases and many others will provide a significant economic strain (directly and indirectly) of any country. Many activities that drive up GDP have negative effects on the health and wellbeing of people and the environment. 

The World Health Organisation has recognised for decades that human health and ecosystem health are closely linked. The best way to support the health and wellbeing of humanity is to engage in widespread regeneration to protect, maintain and improve healthy ecosystems, functions everywhere. We depend on the planetary life support. 

Instead of putting too much emphasis on generic larger scale ‘solutions’, which are likely somewhat removed from the realities and contexts of many local communities wherever they are. And because the supported approach by Gaia Education for regenerative design and development, is about the context specific potential of each and every place and community. Hence, we want to support the life affirming or life regenerating local conversations and co-creative processes which should be a starting point of whole systems based realisation of SDG 3 and all strongly linked and all other SDG systemically together. From this we provide some useful questions to ask yourself or a group you work with in relation to SDG 3 (sourced from the Gaia Education SDG Flashcards) in a multidimensional manner in the social, ecological, economic and worldview/cultural dimensions.. 

The Gaia Education SDG Flashcards invite participants to engage and to collaborate to identify actions and solutions to implement the SDGs in ways that are relevant to their lives and communities, locally. This is an effective way to establish local community ownership and realisation for the UN SDGs.

The SDG Flashcards are used in the SDG Training of Multipliers (online and face-to-face). Check out the freely downloadable SDG Training of Multipliers Handbook for a detailed description of how to prepare, promote, and how to use these cards  more easily to promote community activist training, in various settings (e.g. local public bodies, communities, schools, universities, business etc.) as well as many other tools from our SDG webpages.

There are of course many examples of working on SDG 3 and health and well-being in all its forms, sometimes also in a systemic way  (Post 0). 

Gaia Education projects that target SDG 3

Youth Action and wellbeing is a project in partnership with UNESCO-ECO, Youth4Smile, Resilience Earth, Forest Bathing Ireland and Slovakian youth parliament. It focuses on giving young people the tools to explore their eco-activism and using a concrete framework and tips on how they can actually change things in their area.

Within the context of the climate crisis and the coronavirus pandemic, it is now more important than ever to collectively respond to the need to restore the environment, engage in society as active citizens, and strengthen our mental resilience. Young people have a strong commitment to protecting the environment, while also having a greater need for social connection and a lower tolerance to uncertainty than other age groups.

The project is based on a series of four workshops primarily based on using nature-based exercises and having a different theme in each workshop. The topics range from exploring what the participant is passionate about in the sustainability issues of social, ecological, economic and worldview. The sessions also help participants create or find a community or group interested in the exact cause, mobilise action, have a say in local decision-making, and amplify the voice of youth, which is vital in making climate-related policies.

The Youth In Transition project has been developed by six partners from four different European countries. Each partner has extensive experience in creative methodologies for ESD for diverse youth, including hard-to-reach youth groups like migrants and refugees. 

This project was born at a moment when face-to-face activities were restricted due to COVID-19 regulations and as a result, the desire to implement blended learning to reach a wider audience became a solution. Thus, this project builds on transforming existing innovative material into online and blended learning offerings. As most young migrants and excluded youth have access to mobile phones, this project provides educational materials accessible through mobile and computer, with a strong focus on creativity and arts.

The aim of YINT is to make a valuable contribution to creating a resilient, low-carbon society in Europe in that the project raises awareness of climate-friendly lifestyle choices among young people and mobilises them to act and showcase youth empowerment in response to the Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Climate Agreement, the ‘Sustainable Green Europe’ and others.

How does your local community SDG project look like?  

Again, let’s take our future into our own hands, and start your SDG journey and locally based community project now! And to close if you would like to learn much more about SDG 3 and all other SDGs and the Agenda 2030 and many more topics approaches and methods to practically work with the SDG in your local context we encourage you  to start or re-invigorate your personal SDG journey through the upcoming online SDGs Multipliers course, starting on 17th February 2025.

Join the course!

For more and the video affine the SDG 3 Good Health and Well Being - UN Sustainable Development Goals - DEEP DIVE

✍️ Article written by Peter Gringinger.

Peter is a change agent and works with the use of whole systems, transition and regenerative design approaches, principles and methods, including permaculture, to provide support through integral and participatory facilitation for individuals, groups, neighborhoods, communities and organisations to co-create and co-design our sustainable futures of regenerative and thriving cultures, places, environments and local but globally networked livelihoods. Peter has a background and extensive experiences in earth systems, environmental and sustainability sciences and has been involved in many small to large projects in these fields of practice in a number of countries and regions around the world, with a recent focus on training, education and facilitation for regeneration. He is a Gaia Education certified trainer, a GEN Ambassador, Earth Charter Educator and Ecological Footprint Trainer and is or was actively involved with GEN Australia and Austria, Cohousing Australia and Transition Towns Austria.