Assistant Professor
Sustainability is more than just protecting the environment; it also entails building a society in which people can lead happy, healthy lives. This crucial element is the focus of one of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the UN: SDG 3: Well-being and Good Health. For individuals of all ages, this mission seeks to guarantee healthy lifestyles and advance wellbeing. It acknowledges that without sound health at its foundation, a sustainable future is impossible.
People can work, learn, and give back to their communities when they are healthy. However, in many regions of the world, attaining excellent health and well-being continues to be a major issue. SDG 3 offers a framework to address these concerns and guarantee a brighter future, from enhancing mental health to combating diseases and ensuring access to healthcare.
Why Health and Wellness Matter
Progress on both a personal and cultural level is predicated on good health. A population in good health can spur economic expansion, lessen inequality, and advance stability and peace. Other sustainability objectives, such as gender equality, poverty eradication, and high-quality education, are more difficult to accomplish without it.
Consider a youngster in a far-off village. That youngster is unlikely to go to school on a regular basis if they are malnourished or have ailments that can be prevented. This affects not just their academic performance but also their capacity to make contributions to society in the future. In a similar vein, poor maternal health can endanger entire families, thereby sustaining cycles of inequality and poverty.
Crucial areas including lowering mother and infant mortality, preventing communicable and non-communicable diseases, and enhancing mental health care are highlighted in SDG . Additionally, it highlights universal healthcare access and better preparedness for global health emergencies, such as pandemics.
Challenges in Achieving SDG 3
Even with advancements, there are still a number of obstacles in the way of universal health and wellbeing.
- Access to Healthcare: Basic healthcare services remain inaccessible to millions of people worldwide. This is particularly true in low-income and rural communities, where there are few medical personnel and facilities.
- Preventable Diseases: Despite the availability of vaccines and treatments, diseases like measles, TB, and malaria still impact susceptible groups.
- Lifestyle Diseases: Poor diets, inactivity, and bad lifestyles are contributing to the rise of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer worldwide.
- Mental Health: Despite affecting millions of individuals and having a substantial influence on productivity and quality of life, mental health concerns are frequently stigmatized and ignored.
- Global Health Emergencies: COVID-19 and other pandemics have demonstrated the vulnerability of health systems.
How Health and Wellness Connect to Sustainability
Promoting wellness supports economic, social, and environmental sustainability. Social Equity: Ensuring universal access to healthcare reduces inequalities and helps marginalized communities thrive. Everyone deserves the chance to live a healthy life. Environmental Impact: Improving health often involves sustainable practices, such as better sanitation, clean water, and reduced pollution, which also protect the planet. For instance, addressing air pollution not only improves respiratory health but also reduces greenhouse gas emissions, which contributes to environmental sustainability. Similarly, promoting clean water and sanitation reduces the spread of waterborne diseases and conserves natural resources.
Steps to Achieve SDG 3
Governments, institutions, and individuals must work together to achieve SDG 3. Here are a few doable actions:
- Expand Healthcare Access – Infrastructure for healthcare must be built by governments, especially in underprivileged areas. Telemedicine and mobile health clinics can assist in providing services to isolated communities.
- Encourage the use of preventative healthcare – Early disease detection, health education, and vaccination campaigns can stop many health problems before they worsen. Lifestyle-related illnesses can also be decreased by taking easy measures like promoting balanced diets and regular exercise.
- Boost Mental Health Services – Physical and mental well-being should be prioritized equally. Communities require initiatives to lessen stigma, awareness campaigns, and easily available counseling services.
- Get Ready for Medical Emergencies – The necessity of strong health systems and international collaboration was highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Governments must make research, healthcare worker training, and supply chain management their top priorities in order to be ready for future health emergencies.
- Involve Communities – The promotion of health and wellness is greatly aided by local communities. Programs designed to address particular community needs may be more effective.
How Individuals Can Contribute
Small actions can be taken by each person to support SDG 3. Personal health can be enhanced by taking easy steps like eating a balanced diet, exercising frequently, abstaining from tobacco and excessive alcohol, and engaging in mindfulness exercises. A wider influence can also be achieved by volunteering, contributing to health-related charities, or taking part in awareness initiatives.
Advocating for policies that support health and wellness, like improved access to healthcare, cleaner air, and mental health support, is another option. Meaningful change can result from the ripple impact of little actions compounded by many.
A Healthier World for All
The goal of achieving SDG 3 is to create a society where everyone has the chance to live a healthy, full life, not just to cure diseases. Every facet of sustainability, from employment and education to environmental preservation, is linked to health and wellness. We can overcome obstacles and guarantee a better, healthier future for everybody if we band together.
For the benefit of future generations as well as ourselves, let’s prioritize our health and well-being.
Example: By taking a comprehensive approach to the wellbeing of its professors and students, JIMS Kalkaji actively supports the objectives of health and wellness. While health-focused guest lectures, group activities, and mental wellness programs foster a supportive environment, other efforts, such the Personal Growth Lab and Communication Lab, assist students in improving their overall development. Furthermore, initiatives like encouraging teamwork, physical fitness, and sustainable practices are in line with SDG 3’s more general goals, guaranteeing a community that is healthier and more productive.
