The world has made substantial progress against several of the chief causes of death and disease. Life expectancy has increased dramatically; infant and maternal mortality have declined; the tide has largely been turned on the HIV epidemic with 21 million people receiving antiretroviral treatment, and malaria deaths have halved.
However, progress has been uneven. At least 400 million people have no access to basic health services. Someone dies prematurely every two seconds from non-communicable diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes or cancer. There remains a 31-year difference between the countries with the shortest and longest life expectancies. While some countries have made impressive gains, national averages hide the fact that some populations, groups and communities are being left behind.
Multisectoral, rights-based and gender-sensitive approaches are essential to address health-related inequalities, strengthening inclusive governance and building resilient systems for health. More than one of every three women have experienced either physical or sexual violence at some point in their life resulting in both short- and long-term consequences for their physical, mental, and reproductive health.
Universal health coverage, based on the principles of equity, access and quality, will be integral to achieving good health and wellbeing (SDG 3). What can you do to improve health and wellbeing around the world?