Sustainable Development Goals 3: Good Health and Well-being

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

Before the COVID-19 crisis, several health statistics were trending in the correct direction. Although maternal and child health had improved, vaccine coverage had grown, and communicable illnesses had decreased, these improvements were not rapid enough to fulfil the 2030 objectives. Beyond the disease itself, the pandemic has stalled or reversed advances in health and poses enormous concerns. Around 90% of nations continue to report one or more interruptions to basic health services, and evidence from a few countries suggests that the epidemic has lowered life expectancy. The virus is disproportionately impacting underprivileged populations, which is unsurprising. For health emergency preparedness, the pandemic has proven the significance of universal health coverage and multisectoral collaboration. Furthermore, governments will need to expand and reinforce fundamental demographic and social data collecting in order to plan successful pandemic policy initiatives.

The effect of COVID19 has stretched health and care workers to its limit.

The COVID-19 pandemic response puts health and care workers on the front lines. This has impacted the delivery of critical health services, particularly in nations with small health staff. According to data from 2013 to 2019, Northern America has a density of approximately 150 nursing and midwifery workers per 10,000 people, which is more than 15 times that of Sub-Saharan Africa and 8 times that of Northern Africa and Southern Asia. Northern America, Oceania, and Central Asia have roughly 25 medical physicians per 10,000 people, compared to 2 per 10,000 in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Health and care professionals are at risk of contracting COVID-19 while doing their duties; according to national COVID-19 surveillance data supplied to WHO, health and care workers contributed for 10% of all new COVID-19 cases in the early months of the pandemic. Working and emotional circumstances for health and care professionals are difficult as a result of COVID-19, including prejudice and discrimination, a shortage of protective gear, strike activities, quarantine, and self-isolation.