Health ministry to review strategies in line with 2030 Vision, SDGs: Official

KUWAIT:

A senior official has referred to an ‘orientation’ to review, and modernize the national health strategies and programs in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Vision. The third of the 17 SDGs is mainly on health, and the other 16 ones cover several relevant challenges, the Ministry of Health Assistant Undersecretary for Technical Affairs Walid AlFalah explained in a press release on Saturday. In 2015, the world adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 SDGs. The 3rd SDG provides for “ensuring healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages.”

The “goals within a goal” seek by 2030 to reduce global maternal mortality; end preventable deaths of newborns and children under five; end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases and combating hepatitis, water-borne diseases and other communicable ones; reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being, in addition to some others.

According to Falah, realizing full health care coverage and applying all the international conventions for combating tobacco, pollution of the environment and climate change are major challenges facing the health systems worldwide. It is necessary the health programs should focus on awareness to encourage people to lead healthy lifestyle and behavior. — KUNA