Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all
The greatest global health emergency of our time
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for the world to go into emergency mode in the COVID-19 battle.
Almost two years into the pandemic, the global economy continues to be uncertain, health systems are overwhelmed and millions more people are being pushed into poverty.
The COVID-19 pandemic has been defined as more than a health crisis: it is an economic crisis, a humanitarian crisis, a security crisis, and a human rights crisis, clearly demonstrating that good health and well-being must be the cornerstone of sustainable, equal and thriving societies.
In February’s Goal of the Month editorial, we focus on Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being.
Why a focus on good health and well-being?
Ensuring everyone at all ages lead healthy lifestyles – both physical and mental health – while providing access to universal health coverage, safe and effective medicines and vaccines is critical to achieving all the Sustainable Development Goals.
This also includes a bold commitment to end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and other communicable diseases by 2030.
There has been progress in many health areas, such as reducing maternal and child mortality. For example, the global under-5 mortality rate was halved from 2000 to 2019 – falling from 76 to 38 deaths per 1,000 live births. However, the rate of improvement has slowed down during COVID-19, which is weakening health systems globally and threatening health outcomes already achieved.
Vaccine Inequity impedes COVID-19 recovery
The health crisis has ignited transformation change with a renewed focus on universal health coverage, social protection and stimulus packages by governments. However, vaccine inequity is threatening hard-won gains in the fight to end the pandemic. More than 30 countries, mostly in Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean, have not vaccinated even 10 per cent of their populations.
The rise of the omicron variant stresses the urgency of leaving no one behind as the international community accelerates efforts to end the pandemic.
The COVID-19 Health Crisis at a Glance
- Almost 350 million cases have been reported
- More than 5.5 million persons have died worldwide
- Manufacturers are producing 1.5 billion doses per month
- 85 per cent of people in Africa have yet to receive a single dose of vaccine
- Vaccination rates in high-income countries are seven times higher than in the countries of Africa
IN FOCUS: COVID-19 and Misinformation
As the world grapples with the pandemic, there has never been a greater need for accurate, verified information.
The plague of misinformation, like the virus, spreads from person-to-person, heightening the risk to health and spreading fear and division.
Verified, an initiative of the United Nations in collaboration with Purpose, seeks to debunk misinformation on the pandemic and provides access to trusted, accurate information that promotes science and real solutions.
Misinformation: Truth over Headlines
Join UN Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications Melissa Fleming and Adama Dieng, UNOHCHR Expert on Human Rights in Sudan & former UN Secretary-General Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocideat the SDG Media Zoneat Expo 2020, Dubai.
Learn about the work that the United Nations is doing to provide accurate and timely information – based on science and data – to dispel the rumors and fake news that continue to exacerbate inequalities and undermine global efforts to defeat the COVID-19 pandemic. https://media.un.org/en/asset/k1r/k1r7li9a0w
HIGHLIGHTS
- The 60thSession of the Commission for Social Development | 7-16 February
- Global Compact for Safe, Orderly & Regular Migration – Report of the Secretary-General | 16 February, TBC
- General Assembly High-Level Thematic Debate: Galvanising Momentum for Universal Vaccination | 25 February
The COVID-19 crisis has disrupted efforts to achieve many of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, especially progress on SDG1 (End poverty) and SDG2 (End hunger).
Without decisive action, the number of people living in extreme poverty is expected to reach 600 million (a global poverty rate of 7 %) in 2030.
The 60th session of the Commission for Social Developmentwill seek to identify effective measures for an inclusive and resilient recovery from COVID-19 for sustainable livelihoods, well-being and dignity for all.
Since the adoption of the Global Compact for Migrationon 10 December 2018, international migration has remained an issue of critical importance.
Between 1 January 2019 and 24 November 2021, more than 8,436 migrant deaths were recorded globally; a further 5,534 migrants went missing and are presumed dead.
Migrants were among those groups most impacted by the pandemic, whether through increased risk of COVID-19 infection, restricted or non-existent access to health services and social protection, job losses and discrimination.
The present report of the UN Secretary-General on Global Compact for Safe, Orderly & Regular Migrationcalls upon countries to take concerted action to advance a world that truly fosters the rights, dignity and well-being of migrants.
Recognizing that “no one is safe, until everyone is safe” – a reality underscored by the emergence of new COVID-19 variants – the High-level Thematic Debate on Galvanising Momentum for Universal Vaccination– hosted by the President of the UN General Assembly – takes place on 25 Feburary 2022.
It provides a timely opportunity to renew political commitment, reinvigorate multilateralism, and reinforce meaningful multi-stakeholder engagement to accelerate international efforts to achieve universal vaccination in the shortest possible period of time.
While a critical milestone has been reached with the delivery of the billionth COVID-19 vaccine dose, the reality is that there are still countries who are lagging behind in terms of vaccine access. WHO calls for efforts to be ramped up so that 70% of people in every country can be vaccinated by mid-2022.
Read more from WHO here
The world must accept that COVID-19 is with us “for the foreseeable future”, even if it is possible to end the acute phase of the pandemic this year, said UN health agency chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Read more here.
Almost two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, school closures continue to disrupt the lives of over 31 million students, exacerbating what the United Nations Secretary- General called a ‘global learning crisis’.
Read more here
New insights into quality of care for girls and women facing medical complications due to unsafe abortion were published by the UN health Agency, WHO and partners.
Read more here
In May 2021, India’s hospitals were at breaking point. The country found itself at the epicentre of the global COVID-19 pandemic, and one of the biggest challenges was providing enough medical oxygen for the sickest patients, unable to breathe unaided, as demand rose ten-fold. By the end of April, there were just under 18 million confirmed cases, and over 200,000 deaths.
Read more here
The United Nations continues to monitor the COVID-19 pandemic and provides important advisories, guidelines, resources, and materials. The latest available information is at https://www.un.org/coronavirus
The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic go far beyond the suffering and death caused by the disease itself.
The first WHO Report on its work on adolescent healthexamines the impact of COVID-19 on the health and well-being of the world’s adolescents and the actions undertaken by the UN health agency. The pandemic has disrupted education, mental well-being and livelihoods and exacerbated inequalities.
Other Key Moments
World Cancer Day(4 February)
International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation(6 February)
One Ocean Summit(9-11 February)
World Pulses Day(10 February)
Youth Environment Assembly (19 February-4 March)
Global Forum for Human-Centred Recovery from COVID-19 (22 – 24 February)