Today, Continuum Health Group (CHG) is celebrating World Health Day! This day marks the 75th anniversary of the World Health Organization (WHO). This year’s theme is “Health for All.” Health For All envisions that all people have good health for a fulfilling life in a peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable world.
In 1948, countries around the globe united to establish the WHO to “promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable – so everyone, everywhere can attain the highest level of health and well-being.” Over the years, global health has made extraordinary progress in maternal and child health, nutrition, disease prevention, education, and more thanks to organizations like the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the World Food Programme (WFP), the UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
The current WHO Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030 “aim to transform the world by calling for action to end poverty and inequality, protect the planet, and ensure that all people enjoy health, justice, and prosperity.” The 17 goals include:
- No poverty – end poverty in all its forms everywhere
- Zero hunger – end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.
- Good Health and Well-Being – ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.
- Quality Education – ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
- Gender Equality – achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
- Clean Water and Sanitation – ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
- Affordable and Clean Energy – ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.
- Decent Work and Economic Growth – promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.
- Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure – build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation.
- Reduced Inequalities – reduce inequality within and among countries.
- Sustainable Cities and Communities – make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.
- Responsible Consumption and Production – ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.
- Climate Action – take urgent action to combat climate change and its impact.
- Life Below Water – conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.
- Life on Land – protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.
- Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions – promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.
- Partnerships for the Goals – strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development.
Check out 75 years of Public Health Milestones as part of National Public Health Week!