AND WELL-BEING: $1 billion WHY IT MATTERS in immunization coverage What’s the goal here? mortality rates have been reduced, life expectancy can save To ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. continues to increase glob- ally, and the fight against some infectious diseases 1 million Why? has made steady progress. children’s lives Ensuring healthy lives However, in the case of other diseases such each year and promoting well- as malaria and tuber- being for all at all ages culosis, progress has is important to building slowed or stalled. prosperous societies. At least half the world’s Major progress has been population are still with- made in improving the out access to essen- health of millions of peo- tial health services. ple. Maternal and child In rich and poor countries How much will it cost to countries more than $7 alike, a health emergency trillion in the next 15 years. can push people into achieve these targets? bankruptcy or poverty. Ensuring healthy lives for What can I do to help? all requires a strong com- You can start by Concerted efforts are mitment, but the benefits promoting and protecting required to achieve uni- outweigh the cost. Healthy your own health and versal health coverage and people are the foundation the health of those sustainable financing for for healthy economies. around you, by making health; address the grow- ing burden of For example, if we spent well-informed choices, non-communicable dis- $1 billion in expanding practicing safe sex and eases, tackle antimi- immunization coverage vaccinating your children. crobial resistance and against influenza, pneu- You can raise awareness environmental factors monia and other prevent- in your community about contributing to ill health. able diseases, we could the importance of good save 1 million children’s health, healthy lifestyles What progress have lives each year. In the past as well as people’s right we made so far? decade, improvements in to quality health care health and heath care led services, especially for Major progress has been to a 24 per cent increase the most vulnerable such made in several areas, in income growth in some as women and children. including in child and of the poorest countries. maternal health as well as You can also hold your in addressing HIV/AIDS. The cost of inaction government, local leaders is greater—millions of and other decision- Despite this progress, children will continue makers accountable to maternal mortality to die from preventable their commitments to continues to affect diseases, women will die in improve people’s access women in low- and pregnancy and childbirth, to health and health care. middle-income countries and health care costs will disproportionately. To find out more continue to plunge millions The total number of deaths of people into poverty. about Goal #3 and of children under 5 years the other Sustainable Noncommunicable Development Goals, visit: of age dropped from 9.8 diseases alone will cost million in 2000 to 5.4 http://www.un.org/ low- and middle-income million in 2017. Half of sustainabledevelopment those deaths occurred in sub-Saharan Africa, and another 30 per cent in Southern Asia. Yet stark disparities persist across regions and countries.