Day 2: The Goal 3 “Good health and well-being,” discussed on the national Super March SDGs consultations

The second day of discussion on the Sustainable Development Goals in Turkmenistan focused on Goal 3 “Good health and well-being”, led by the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry and World Health Organizations (WHO) with the support of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), United Nations Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF), International Organization for Migration (IOM), United Nations Development Program (UNDP), and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), March 3, 2016. The goal includes ensure healthy life and promote well-being for all.

“Health is positioned by the SDGs as a key feature of human development. Social, environmental and economic determinants, such as education, income and urbanization, have an impact on health and, in turn, benefit from a healthy population.

 

SDGs will keep the spotlight on the unfinished agenda of ending preventable maternal, newborn and child mortality. New HIV infections continue to rise in some locations and in populations that are typically excluded or marginalized. 

Chronic and catastrophic disease remains one of the main factors that push households from poverty into deprivation. Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) impose a large burden on human health worldwide. Currently, 63% of all deaths worldwide stem from NCDs – chiefly cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes.

The cumulative economic losses to low- and middle-income countries from the four diseases are estimated to surpass US$ 7 trillion by 2025. Additionally, there continues to be underinvestment in the social circumstances and environmental factors affecting health. The job on HIV and health is far from done.” [1]

Representatives of about nine national ministries and agencies discussed the proposed 13 targets to the Goal 3 and their relevance to Turkmenistan. Participants of todays’ consultation agreed to adopt 12 of the 13 global targets, with 15 of 24 indicators accepted without modification and 8 were modified to the local context. Only one target and its corresponding 2 indicators were not accepted for Turkmenistan.

The day produced lively discussions with intense participation from all ministries and agencies.Participants also suggested specific national plans and strategies where the relevant indicators can be included.