The latest progress assessment from 2024 paints a worrying picture: the world is severely off track to realize the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Of the 169 targets set by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), 135 can be assessed using available global trend data from the 2015 baseline to the most recent year.
The findings are sobering:
● Only 17% of the assessable targets are on track for achievement by 2030.
● Nearly half (48%) exhibit moderate to severe deviations from the desired trajectory.
● 30% show only marginal progress.
● 18% indicate moderate progress.
● Alarmingly, 18% show stagnation, and 17% have regressed below the 2015 baseline levels.
Focus on Health (Goal 3): Urgent Action Needed
One of the most critical areas of concern is health, encapsulated in Goal 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. The world is not on track to achieve this goal. To change course, we must:
1. Achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC): Ensure all individuals receive necessary health services without financial hardship.
2. Strengthen Health Systems: Invest in infrastructure, train professionals, and ensure essential medicines are available.
3. Invest in Disease Prevention and Treatment: Focus on vaccination, health education, and effective treatment.
4. Address Disparities in Access: Ensure equitable healthcare access for marginalized groups, including the poor, women, children, the elderly, and rural populations.
It’s time to act. Join the conversation on how we can collectively drive change and make a tangible impact. Let’s work together to create a healthier, more equitable world.
Pharm. Dr. Emeka Ihedilionye
Coordinator, RxPress Health