SDG 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages

 Indigenous women in Ipiales, Colombia attend a community meeting, many with their children.  2015. Photo: UN Women/Ryan Brown
Photo: UN Women/Ryan Brown

Targets

  • By 2030, reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 live births.
  • By 2030, ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services, including for family planning, information and education, and the integration of reproductive health into national strategies and programmes.
  • By 2030, end preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age, with all countries aiming to reduce neonatal mortality to at least as low as 12 per 1,000 live births and under-5 mortality to at least as low as 25 per 1,000 live births.
  • By 2030, end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases and combat hepatitis, water-borne diseases and other communicable diseases.
  • By 2030, reduce by one-third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.
  • Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol.
  • By 2020, halve the number of global deaths and injuries from road traffic accidents.
  • Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health-care services and access to safe, effective, quality and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all.
  • By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination.
  • Strengthen the implementation of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in all countries, as appropriate.
  • Support the research and development of vaccines and medicines for the communicable and noncommunicable diseases that primarily affect developing countries, provide access to affordable essential medicines and vaccines, in accordance with the Doha Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health, which affirms the right of developing countries to use to the full the provisions in the Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights regarding flexibilities to protect public health, and, in particular, provide access to medicines for all.
  • Substantially increase health financing and the recruitment, development, training and retention of the health workforce in developing countries, especially in least developed countries and small island developing States.
  • Strengthen the capacity of all countries, in particular developing countries, for early warning, risk reduction and management of national and global health risks.
SDG 3: Good health and well-being

Women and men have different health-care needs, but an equal right to live healthily. For many women and girls, however, gender discrimination systematically undermines their access to health care, for reasons that include fewer financial resources and constraints on mobility.

Every day 830 women die from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth around the world.

This is compounded by additional burdens imposed by gender disparities which limit their ability to stay healthy. These include long hours spent on domestic work, unsafe work environments and gender-based violence, with mechanisms for prevention and protection often inadequate. 

Pregnancy and childbirth pose particular risks. Every day, 830 women die from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth around the world. Globally, that amounted to about 303,000 women in 2015.

Learn more: Stronger collaboration for an equitable and resilient recovery towards the health-related SDGs, incentivizing collaboration

UN Women acts to advance women’s well-being and health by working with governments to improve health services for women and girls, including survivors of violence, and backing non-governmental partners in filling gaps. We strive to end practices that put women and girls in danger, such as child marriage, and support efforts to end discriminatory laws and practices impeding women’s access to sexual and reproductive health-care services.

Stories

Chum Sopha, now 29, works with HIV-positive women in Roka Village in north-west Cambodia.

From where I stand: Chum Sopha
Chum Sopha was 27 when she tested HIV positive, following a major HIV outbreak in her village in Cambodia. With UN Women’s support, Sopha, along with other HIV positive women established a support group, which helped her fight discrimination. Today, she is hopeful and confident of living a fully functioning life.

 

Midwife Lorina Karway attends to a new mother in the post-partum ward of the Bodowhea Clinic in River Cess Liberia. Photo: UN Women/Winston Daryoue

 

Maternal health gets a new boost in Liberia
With 1,072 maternal deaths for every 100,000 births, Liberia has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world. In the remote areas, infrastructure and facilities are often lacking, and midwives and health workers deliver babies without any electricity at night. With the installation of solar lighting systems by UN Women and partners, conditions have improved in 26 clinics and five newly constructed Maternal Waiting Rooms.

 

Anna Aryabinska “Almost everybody is completely shocked to learn that I have been living with HIV for over 11 years.” Photo: UN Women/Volodymyr Shuvayev

 

Living with HIV and violence: Women of Ukraine speak out and build solidarity
In Ukraine, 35 per cent of women living with HIV have experienced violence since the age of 15, and lack of awareness, shelters and support services pose additional challenges for them. A UN Women-supported initiative is bringing awareness and new beginnings for HIV-positive women survivors of violence, in addition to helping them improve their health and quality of life.