Good Health and Well-Being: Strengthening Health Systems for a Sustainable Future

Sustainable Development Goal 3 aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all, at every age. It focuses on achieving universal health coverage, improving healthcare quality, and protecting people from both communicable and non-communicable diseases.

Significant progress has been made in reducing child and maternal mortality and combating diseases like HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis. Yet, inequality remains stark. According to the World Health Organization (2024), nearly half of the world’s population still lacks access to essential health services. Non-communicable diseases—such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer—account for over 70% of global deaths, while mental health and pollution-related illnesses are growing challenges.

Health is the cornerstone of sustainable development. Without strong health systems, progress in poverty reduction, education, and economic stability falters. The COVID-19 pandemic revealed the urgency of building resilient healthcare systems and ensuring equitable vaccine access.

Achieving SDG 3 requires greater investment in primary healthcare, disease prevention, mental health, and clean environments. Universal access to affordable medicines and trained health workers will ensure that good health is not a privilege—but a fundamental right for all.

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Sources: World Health Organization (2024), United Nations SDG Report (2024), UNICEF (2024).

I got feature in my work on the newspaper special thanks goes to Journalist YANJU UWALA for the interview

    

I got feature in my work on the newspaper special thanks goes to Journalist YANJU UWALA for the interview 

*INTERVIEW: Our Youth Needs To Venture More Into Technology For Development – Oluwabimpe Pereira, A Digital Expert*

 https://nationalreports.com.ng/2025/10/25/interview-our-youth-needs-to-venture-more-into-technology-for-development-oluwabimpe-pereira-a-digital-expert/

Transforming Food Systems for a Hunger-Free Future

Zero Hunger (SDG 2) is the second goal of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), established in 2015. Its core mission is to end hunger, achieve food security, improve nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture by 2030. It also aims to promote sustainable agriculture, strengthen rural livelihoods, and protect ecosystems that support food production.

According to The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (FAO, 2024), over 735 million people currently face chronic hunger. Conflicts, climate change, inequality, and volatile food prices continue to disrupt food systems, especially in vulnerable regions. Malnutrition now includes undernourishment, micronutrient deficiencies, and obesity—revealing deep inequities in access to healthy diets.

Hunger undermines health, learning, and productivity, trapping families in cycles of poverty. Children who suffer malnutrition experience lifelong disadvantages that limit their potential. Achieving Zero Hunger is therefore essential for human development and social stability.

Ending hunger requires transforming global food systems to become inclusive, resilient, and sustainable. This involves investing in smallholder farmers, empowering women, promoting climate-smart agriculture, reducing food waste, and expanding access to land, credit, and markets. Social protection programs like school feeding and cash transfers also play a vital role in improving nutrition.

Without stronger global commitment, hunger will remain a major challenge. Achieving SDG 2 demands coordinated policies linking food security, nutrition, and climate action—ensuring no one is left behind.

Reference

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2024.

United Nations. Sustainable Development Goals: Goal 2 – Zero Hunger.

World Food Programme (WFP). Hunger Map and Global Report on Food Crises, 2024.

World Health Organization (WHO). Nutrition and Food Systems Fact Sheet, 2024.

UNDP. Human Development Report 2023/2024: Breaking the Cycle of Hunger and Inequality

More Than a Faucet: Why Clean Water and Sanitation Are the Foundation of a Healthy World 💧

 

We often take it for granted. Turn the tap, and out flows clean, safe water. Flush the toilet, and the waste is efficiently managed. But for billions of people globally, this everyday convenience remains a distant dream—a gap that costs lives, stunts development, and perpetuates the cycle of poverty.

Access to clean water and sanitation isn't a luxury; it's a fundamental human right and the bedrock of global health and sustainable development.

The Health and Development Crisis

The impact of inadequate Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) is staggering. It’s an issue that touches every aspect of human life.

The Disease Burden

Contaminated water and poor sanitation are primary transmission routes for devastating waterborne diseases like cholera, typhoid, and dysentery. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that unsafe water and sanitation are responsible for hundreds of thousands of diarrhoeal deaths annually, with children under five being the most vulnerable. When a community lacks safe toilets and clean water for handwashing, disease spreads rapidly, overwhelming local health systems.

An Economic Drain

Investing in WASH is one of the most cost-effective development measures. The WHO estimates that for every $1 invested in water and sanitation, there's an economic return of up to $3 to $34 through reduced healthcare costs, increased productivity, and fewer lost school days. Conversely, the lack of these services locks communities into a cycle of sickness, lost work, and poverty.

The Gender and Education Gap

The burden of fetching water often falls on women and girls. They can spend several hours a day walking long distances to collect water, which is often dirty. This labor not only prevents girls from attending school but also keeps women from participating in income-generating activities. Furthermore, the lack of private and safe sanitation facilities in schools is a major reason why many girls drop out when they reach puberty.

Why Haven't We Solved This Yet? The Core Challenges

Despite global recognition and the Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6) calling for universal access to clean water and sanitation by 2030, we are dangerously off-track. The challenges are not merely technical; they are institutional and environmental:

The Funding Gap: The investment required to build and maintain the necessary infrastructure—pipes, treatment plants, wells, and sanitation systems—is immense. Tariffs and local taxes are often insufficient, and international aid struggles to meet the massive shortfall.

Climate Change: Increased drought, extreme flooding, and shifting weather patterns directly threaten water resources. Changing climates degrade water quality and place stress on aging infrastructure, making water supply unreliable.

Rapid Urbanization: As cities grow at a rapid pace, infrastructure in informal and densely populated settlements often fails to keep up, creating massive sanitation crises and contamination risks.

Poor Governance and Management: Fragmented policies, a lack of cohesive water management strategies across regions, and under-maintained systems cause huge amounts of water to be lost or polluted.

The Path Forward: Collective Action and Innovation

Achieving SDG 6 requires a concerted effort from all sectors—governments, NGOs, the private sector, and individuals.

Prioritize Sustainable Financing: Governments and international partners must recognize WASH as a top priority for public spending and seek innovative public-private partnerships to close the funding gap.

Invest in Resilience: Future water and sanitation projects must be climate-resilient, built to withstand floods and droughts. This includes embracing solutions like rainwater harvesting, protecting natural watersheds, and safe water reuse and recycling.

Harness Local Power: Solutions are most effective when they are community-led. Training local residents to manage, maintain, and repair water points and sanitation facilities ensures long-term sustainability and ownership.

Promote Hygiene Education: Simple, low-cost interventions, like promoting handwashing with soap at critical times (after using the toilet and before preparing food), have a massive impact on reducing disease spread.

The global water crisis is a solvable challenge. By prioritizing clean water and sanitation, we are not just providing a service; we are investing in human dignity, public health, and a more prosperous future for all.

What steps can you take in your community to value and conserve water? Share your thoughts below!

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No Poverty: Building a Future of Dignity, Equity, and Opportunity for All

Poverty is more than a lack of income—it is a multidimensional condition marked by limited access to education, healthcare, sanitation, employment, and security. Sustainable Development Goal 1 (SDG 1) seeks to eradicate poverty in all its forms by 2030, ensuring that everyone can live with dignity, opportunity, and resilience.

According to the World Bank (2023), extreme poverty is defined as living on less than US$2.15 per day, yet national definitions vary to reflect local realities. Despite significant progress, over 800 million people still live in extreme poverty, while four billion lack access to social protection systems such as healthcare and pensions. Global crises—including COVID-19, climate change, and conflicts—have reversed decades of progress.

Poverty persists due to unequal economic growth, limited access to education and basic services, weak governance, and vulnerability to environmental and economic shocks. Reducing poverty requires inclusive growth, robust social protection, and investment in health, education, and infrastructure. Empowering women, ensuring land rights, and promoting financial inclusion are also key.

Achieving SDG 1 remains a global imperative. Without urgent action, nearly 9% of the world’s population may still live in extreme poverty by 2030. Ending poverty demands collective commitment, equity, and sustainable development for all.

Sources:

United Nations (2024) Sustainable Development Goals Report; World Bank (2023) Poverty and Shared Prosperity Report; United Nations Development Programme (UNDP, 2023); UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA, 2024); UN Environment Programme (UNEP, 2023).

Gender Equality: The Foundation for a Thriving World

 

Gender equality is not just a moral ideal or a matter of "women's issues"—it is the fundamental human right and the single greatest lever we have for achieving peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable societies. It means ensuring that all individuals, regardless of their gender identity, have equal access to opportunities, resources, and power, without the limitations imposed by discrimination or rigid societal norms.

When we empower half the world's population, everyone benefits.

The Powerful Economic Imperative

The case for gender equality extends far beyond fairness; it is a proven economic powerhouse.

Boosting Global GDP: Studies from organizations like the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the McKinsey Global Institute consistently show that advancing gender equality in the labor market could add trillions to the global GDP. Simply put, when women participate fully in the economy, when they have equal pay for equal work, and when they are represented in leadership, the economic pie grows for everyone.

Innovation and Productivity: Diverse teams, including those with balanced gender representation, are proven to be more innovative, make better decisions, and demonstrate higher performance. Ignoring the talent and perspective of half the population is an enormous, self-inflicted handicap on human potential and business competitiveness.

The Stubborn Hurdles That Remain

Despite decades of progress in education and political representation, deep-seated barriers continue to prevent true equality:

The Unpaid Care Burden: Globally, women perform the vast majority of unpaid domestic and care work—housework, childcare, and caring for elderly family members. This immense workload limits their time for paid employment, entrepreneurship, and political participation, effectively subsidizing the rest of the economy at their own expense.

Discriminatory Social Norms: Deeply ingrained patriarchal systems and cultural norms prescribe rigid roles for men and women, limiting their choices from a young age. These norms manifest as the gender pay gap, underrepresentation in STEM fields and leadership, and the persistent issue of gender-based violence .

Lack of Political Representation: While women's participation in politics has grown, they remain significantly underrepresented in parliaments, corporate boardrooms, and other positions of power. This lack of diverse leadership means policies and laws often fail to fully account for the needs and experiences of all citizens.

Moving from Aspiration to Action

Achieving true gender equality requires a collective effort that goes beyond simply advocating for women; it requires engaging men and boys as allies and transforming the systems that perpetuate inequality.

Share the Load: Companies and governments must adopt policies like paid parental leave and subsidized childcare to help redistribute the burden of care work. On a personal level, families must actively work to share household and care responsibilities equally.

Challenge Stereotypes: We must consciously disrupt gender stereotypes in media, education, and the workplace. This includes encouraging girls in STEM and fostering emotional vulnerability and caregiving skills in boys.

Legislate and Enforce: Governments must enact and rigorously enforce laws that guarantee equal pay, protect against gender-based violence, and remove all remaining legal barriers that limit women’s economic rights.

Gender equality is not a zero-sum game; it is a win-win for humanity. It is the path to a healthier, wealthier, and more just world where every person is free to reach their full, extraordinary potential. Let's commit to building that future, together.

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More Than Just Attendance: The Global Imperative of Quality Education (SDG 4)

 

Education is often touted as the "great equalizer," the single most powerful tool for individual empowerment and national development. Yet, for hundreds of millions of children and youth globally, the promise of education remains hollow. The challenge is no longer just getting children into the classroom; it’s ensuring that what they receive there is Quality Education.

The UN Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) is a bold commitment to "ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all." This goal forces us to redefine education beyond mere enrollment rates and focus on learning outcomes, relevance, and equity.

The Three Pillars of Quality Education

A truly quality education is built on three fundamental pillars, and failure in any one compromises the whole structure:

1. Equitable Access and Inclusion

Quality education must start with fairness. This means eliminating all barriers that prevent marginalized groups from accessing learning.

Gender Parity: Ensuring that girls, who are often disproportionately excluded, have equal opportunities to complete primary, secondary, and tertiary education.

Infrastructure: Providing safe, well-equipped learning environments, especially in rural and disadvantaged areas, with access to sanitation, electricity, and clean water.

Special Needs: Making classrooms and curricula fully inclusive for children with disabilities, recognizing that every child has a right to learn.

2. Relevant Learning Outcomes

A quality education is not measured by the number of years spent in school, but by what skills and knowledge students acquire. The world is changing rapidly, and education must keep pace.

Foundational Skills: Mastery of literacy and numeracy remains paramount, as these are the building blocks for all future learning.

21st-Century Skills: Curricula must shift to emphasize critical thinking, problem-solving, collaboration, and creativity. These skills are essential for navigating modern economies and addressing complex global challenges.

Global Citizenship: Education should foster an understanding of sustainability, human rights, and global peace, preparing students to be responsible, engaged global citizens.

3. Qualified and Supported Teachers

The quality of an education system cannot exceed the quality of its teachers. Teachers are the most critical resource in the classroom, yet they are often the most undervalued and under-supported.

Professional Development: Teachers need continuous training not just in their subject matter, but in modern pedagogical techniques, technology integration, and inclusive teaching practices.

Fair Compensation: Providing competitive salaries and benefits is essential to attracting and retaining the brightest minds in the profession.

Supportive Environment: Ensuring manageable class sizes, providing necessary resources, and fostering a culture of professional respect are key to reducing teacher burnout and increasing effectiveness.

The Domino Effect of Investing in Quality

Investing in quality education is arguably the most efficient investment a country can make, as it directly impacts nearly every other global challenge:

Ending Poverty (SDG 1): Education provides the skills necessary for decent work and economic growth, lifting families out of the poverty cycle.

Good Health (SDG 3): Educated individuals make better health choices, leading to lower rates of disease and better maternal and child health outcomes.

Gender Equality (SDG 5): Educating girls is the single most powerful tool for accelerating development, reducing child marriage, and increasing female political participation.

To achieve SDG 4, we must move beyond simply building schools. We must commit to transforming the entire learning experience so that every single student, regardless of their background, receives an education that is relevant, equitable, and truly prepares them to shape a better world.

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