Health for all and all for health, says WHO

The World Health Organization (WHO) is dedicated to promoting healthier populations, with an approach of “health for all and all for health.” To promote healthier populations, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were created to illustrate a bold and ambitious agenda for the future of our health.

The WHO has a core mission to promote health while keeping the world safe and serving the vulnerable. Pretty inspiring, right? These goals go beyond fighting disease, which is important, but they also ensure a focus of healthy lives and well-being for all. The SDGs are comprised of a list of 17 desired outcomes for healthier populations (WHO, 2018):

1. No Poverty – to prioritize the health needs of the impoverished

2. Zero Hunger – to address the causes and consequences of all forms of malnutrition

3. Good Health and Well-being – to ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for everyone

4. Quality Education – to support high quality education for all to improve health and health equity

5. Gender Equality – to fight gender inequities, including violence against women

6. Clean Water and Sanitation – to prevent disease through safe water and sanitation for all

7. Affordable and Clean Energy – to promote sustainable energy for healthy homes and healthy lives

8. Decent Work and Economic Growth – to promote health and employment as a driver of inclusive economic growth

9. Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure – to promote national R&D capacity (indicators used to monitor resources devoted to science and technology worldwide) and manufacturing of affordable essential medical products

10. Reduced Inequalities – to ensure equitable access to health services through universal health coverage based on stronger primary care

11. Sustainable Communities and Cities – to foster healthier cities through urban planning for cleaner air and safer and more active living

12. Responsible Consumption and Production – to promote responsible consumption of medicines to combat antibiotic resistance

13. Climate Action – to protect health from climate risks, and promote health through low-carbon development

14. Life Below Water – to support the restoration of fish stocks to improve safe and diversified healthy diets

15. Life on Land – to promote health and prevent disease through healthy natural environments

16. Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions – to empower stronger institutions to develop, implement, monitor, and account for ambitious national SDG response

17. Partnerships for The Goals – to mobilize partners to monitor and attain the health related SDG’s

Hopefully this list of sustainable development goals inspires you, but it should also bring awareness about the extensive issues that we need to sustain, in order to foster healthier populations. This will create positive, happy, and long-lasting lives. If we all make small or big changes in our lives individually, this can cause a ripple-effect, making changes to our populations and environments. So what can you choose? Health for all and all for health!

Reference: World Health Organization (2018). Health Promotion: Promoting Healthier Populations. Retrieved from www.who.int/healthpromotion/en/

Chloe McNamee is a health promotion facilitator with AHS Population Health. She can be reached by email at chloe.mcnamee@ahs.ca