Fact sheets on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): health targets

SDG 3 is to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. It has 13 targets measured through 26 indicators. However, a person’s health and well-being are affected not only by disease and treatment, but also by social and economic factors such as housing, poverty and education. Health targets can therefore also be found across the other SDGs. The fact sheets, which include essential facts and figures and identify the challenges, commitments and progress made on each key topic, are a valuable source of information for policy-makers.

Access to essential medicines, vaccines and health technologies

SDG target 3.B: 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.

Fact sheet on the SDGs: Access to essential medicines, vaccines and health technologies (2017) (in English and Russian)

Air quality and health

SDG target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination.

SDG target 7.1: By 2030, ensure universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services.

SDG target 11.6: Reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management.

Fact sheet on the SDGs: Air quality and health (2018) (in English and Russian)

Alcohol consumption

Alcohol adversely impacts 13 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and a total of 52 targets, effectively intersecting all three dimensions of the 2030 Agenda (economic, social and environmental). It has a direct impact on many health-related targets within the SDGs, including those for maternal and child health, infectious diseases (HIV, viral hepatitis and tuberculosis), NCDs, mental health and road injuries. The inclusion of a specific target on harmful use of alcohol (SDG 3.5) demonstrates the key role of alcohol within the global development agenda.

SDG target 3.5: Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol.

Fact sheet on the SDGs: Alcohol consumption and sustainable development (2020) (English and Russian)

Antimicrobial resistance

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is addressed by a number of the SDGs, including SDGs 1, 2, 6, 8, 12 and 17, as well as SDG target 3.3: By 2030, end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases and combat hepatitis, waterborne diseases and other communicable diseases.

Fact sheet on the SDGs: Antimicrobial resistance (2017) (in English and Russian)

Child and adolescent health

SDG target 3.2: Reduce neonatal deaths and deaths of children under 5 years, with all countries aiming to reduce neonatal mortality to at least as low as 12 per 1000 live births and under-5 mortality to at least as low as 25 per 1000 live births.

Fact sheet on the SDGs: Child and adolescent health (2017) (in English and Russian)

Climate change

SDG 1 and SDG targets 3.3 and 3.4 include a focus on climate change, and every target of SDG 13 involves taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.

Fact sheet on the SDGs: Climate change (2017) (in English and Russian)

Disability

Optimizing the health and well-being of people with disabilities is essential to achieving the SDGs, in particular target 3.8 on achieving universal health coverage; target 1.3 on implementing nationally appropriate social protection systems and measures for all and achieving substantial coverage for the poor and the vulnerable; target 8.5 on achieving full and productive employment and decent work for all, including people with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value; and targets 11.2, 11.3 and 11.7 on providing access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems, enhancing inclusive and sustainable urbanization, planning and management, and providing universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces for all, in particular for people with disabilities. SDG target 3.4 also links to this topic.

Factsheet on the SDGs: Disability (2019) (in English and Russian)

Financial protection

Financial protection is a core dimension of health system performance and central to universal health coverage; it affects many of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG targets 1.1, 1.2, 3.8, 10.1, 10.2.

Fact sheet on the SDGs: Financial protection and the Sustainable Development Goals (2020)

HIV

SDG target 3.3: By 2030, end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases and combat hepatitis, waterborne diseases and other communicable diseases.

Fact sheet on the SDGs: HIV (2017) (in English)

Hazardous chemicals

SDG target 3.9: By 2030 substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution and contamination.

SDG target 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and increasing recycling and safe reuse globally.

SDG target 12.4: By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle, in accordance with agreed international frameworks, and significantly reduce their release to air, water and soil in order to minimize their adverse impacts on human health.

Fact sheet on the SDGs: Hazardous chemicals (2017) (in English and Russian)

Health emergency risk management

SDG 3 to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages necessitates good health emergency risk management. SDG targets 1.5, 11.5, 11.B., 13.1, 13.3 and 16.1 also link to the management of health risks.

Fact sheet on the SDGs: Health emergency risk management (2019) (in English)

Health workforce

SDG target 3.C: 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.

Fact sheet on the SDGs: Health workforce (2018) (in English and Russian)

Immunization systems strengthening

SDG target 3.3: By 2030, end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases and combat hepatitis, waterborne diseases and other communicable diseases.

Fact sheet on the SDGs: Immunization systems strengthening (2017) (in English and Russian)

Interpersonal violence

SDG 1, SDG 3, SDG 4, SDG 10, SDG 11 and SDG 17.

SDG target 5.1: End all forms of discrimination against women and girls everywhere.

SDG target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation.

SDG target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.

SDG target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children.

Fact sheet on the SDGs: Violence, health and sustainable development (2020) (in English and Russian)

Malaria

SDG target 3.3: By 2030, end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases and combat hepatitis, waterborne diseases and other communicable diseases.

Fact sheet on the SDGs: Malaria (2017) (in English and Russian)

Maternal health

SDG target 3.1: By 2030, reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100 000 live births.

Fact sheet on the SDGs: Maternal health (2017) (in English and Russian)

Measles and rubella

SDG target 3.3: By 2030, end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases and combat hepatitis, waterborne diseases and other communicable diseases.

Fact sheet on the SDGs: Measles and rubella (2017) (in English and Russian)

Mental health

SDG target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from noncommunicable diseases through prevention and treatment, and promote mental health and well-being.

Fact sheet on the SDGs: Mental health (2018) (in English and Russian)

Migration and health

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

SDG target 10.7: Facilitate orderly, safe, regular and responsible migration and mobility of people, including through the implementation of planned and well managed migration policies.

SDGs 16: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all, and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.

SDG 17: Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development.

Fact sheet on the SDGs: Migration and health (2017) (in English and Russian)

Nutrition, overweight and obesity

SDG1, SDG 2, SDG 3, SDG 5, SDG 10, SDG 11,SDG 12 and SDG 13.

SDG target 1.2: Reduce the number of men, women and children living in poverty

SDG target 2.2: End all forms of malnutrition

SDG target 3.4: Reduce premature mortality from NCDs

SDG targets 3.1 & 3.2: Reduce global maternal mortality and end preventable deaths of newborns and children under-5 years of age

SDG 10.2. Promote universal social, economic and political inclusion

11.A, 12.3 and 13.2. Support positive economic, social and environmental links between urban and rural areas, reduce wasteful food losses and integrate climate change measures into national policies

Fact sheet on the SDGs: Nutrition, overweight and obesity

Noncommunicable diseases

SDG target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from noncommunicable diseases through prevention and treatment, and promote mental health and well-being.

Fact sheet on the SDGs: Noncommunicable diseases (2017) (in English and Russian)

Physical activity

Physical activity is key to achieving SDG 3 overall, particularly SDG targets 3.4 and 3.9. SDG targets 2.2, 4.1, 5.C, 8.3, 8.9, 10.2, 11.2, 13.2 and 16.1 also link to the theme of physical activity.

Fact sheet on the SDGs: Physical activity (2019) (in English)

Poliomyelitis

SDG target 3.3: By 2030, end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases and combat hepatitis, waterborne diseases and other communicable diseases.

Fact sheet on the SDGs: Poliomyelitis (2017) (in English and Russian)

Rehabilitation

SDG target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from noncommunicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.

SDG target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all.

SDG target 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all, including people with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value.

Fact sheet on the SDGs: Rehabilitation (2019) (in English and Russian)

Road safety

SDG target 3.6: By 2020, halve the number of global deaths and injuries from road traffic accidents.

SDG target 11.2: By 2030, provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all, improving road safety, notably by expanding public transport, with special attention to the needs of those in vulnerable situations, women, children, people with disabilities and older people.

Fact sheet on the SDGs: Road safety (2017) (in English and Russian)

Sexual and reproductive health

SDG target 3.7: By 2030, ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health care services, including services for family planning, information and education, and the integration of reproductive health services into national strategies and programmes.

SGD target 5.6: Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights.

Fact sheet on the SDGs: Sexual and reproductive health (2017) (in English and Russian)

Tobacco control

Tobacco control is key to achieving 3 SDG targets: target 3.a on strengthening the implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) in all countries; target 3.4 on reducing premature mortality from noncommunicable diseases by 2030; and target 3.8 on achieving universal health coverage. SDGs 5, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 also link to tobacco control.

Factsheet on the SDGs: Tobacco control (2019) (in English and Russian)

Tuberculosis

SDG target 3.3: By 2030, end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases and combat hepatitis, waterborne diseases and other communicable diseases.

Fact sheet on the SDGs: Tuberculosis (2017) (in English and Russian)

Viral hepatitis

SDG target 3.3: By 2030, end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases and combat hepatitis, waterborne diseases and other communicable diseases.

Fact sheet on the SDGs: Viral hepatitis (2017) (in English and Russian)