Health & well-being
Good health is a state of physical, mental and social well-being, not just the absence of disease and infirmity.Δ ⇒ Many factors combine to affect the health of individuals and communities including the social and economic environment, the physical environment, and the person’s individual characteristics and behaviours.Δ
Health care is therefore not limited to the treatment of disease and injuries: it also includes a wide range of measures that contribute to maintaining good health and preventing disease and injuries. Appropriate measures need to be taken at all levels – individual, household, community, national and international levels – to reduce health risks and reinforce individuals’ resilience.
What “Transforming our World – Agenda 2030” says about health and well-being …
In the declaration (#7), governments agreed a vision of “A world with equitable and universal access to… …health care and social protection, where physical, mental and social well-being are assured” and, in (#), they committed to “promote physical and mental health and well-being, and to extend life expectancy for all, we must achieve universal health coverage and access to quality health care. No one must be left behind.”
SDG #4 is: “Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages”
Associated targets include: Reduce maternal mortality… End preventable child deaths… End epidemics of AIDS, TB, malaria and combat communicable diseases… Reduce non-communicable disease mortality, promote mental health and well-being… Prevent and treat substance abuse (narcotics & alcohol)… Reduce road traffic deaths & injuries…Universal access to reproductive health care… Universal health care coverage, access to quality services… Reduce deaths and illness due to chemicals and pollution… Details
Share your experience and ideas:
- What are the principal health problems in your community/locality/country? What are the causes of these problems – the immediate causes and the underlying causes?
- What efforts are currently being made to resolve, or at least reduce, those problems?
- What more could be done – by individuals, households, communities and the government – to reduce/resolve those problems?
- What have you done yourself?
- Why is good health and good health care important for achieving progress towards SDGs and the well-being of people and the planet?