Health Authorities Start Taking Measures To Achieve SDG-3 Targets

The national and provincial health authorities have started making the way forward for the mutual collaboration and cooperation of government, World Health Organization (WHO) and other partners in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals-3 (SDG-3) targets in Pakistan.

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 15th Nov, 2018 ) :The national and provincial health authorities have started making the way forward for the mutual collaboration and cooperation of government, World Health Organization (WHO) and other partners in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals-3 (SDG-3) targets in Pakistan.

According to an official of Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination, the Sustainable Development Goals-3 localization program has been working successfully throughout the country in collaboration with World Health Organization (WHO).

He said that Pakistan had made sub-optimal progress towards achieving the targets set out under the MDGs and now the SDG Agenda. He added that health is centrally positioned within the SDG Agenda, with one comprehensive goal (SDG3) with its targets covering major health priorities, with additional links to targets in many of the other SDG goals.

The official said that the Ministry considers SDGs as national goals of Pakistan and is committed to implementing SDG3 Agenda through its localization and integration with the country health strategies and plans both at national and provincial level. He said that the first step towards attaining the SDG3 targets in Pakistan starts with understanding the ground realities. The health indicators are not up to the desired level and the government is well aware that there is a need to work hard to achieve SDG3 targets through universal health coverage.

He said the Ministry has completed the process of localization of health related SDG indicators in consultation with all relevant stakeholders and partners both at the national and provincial levels.

He said that it is a golden opportunity with SDG3 localization to reconsider interventions required for improvement of health indicators at the national, provincial and district levels.

The official said that the Ministry seeks close cooperation with line ministries to monitor the progress in SDG3 indicators. He said that Pakistan Bureau of Statistics will be requested to work in collaboration with the Ministry on data sharing and analysis for measuring and reporting progress on health indicators.

He said that by adhering to the SDG Agenda 2030, the country aims to bring about transformational change in 17 domains covering multiple sectors to improve the lives of not only the citizens of Pakistan but also contribute towards the betterment of the entire humanity.

He said SGD-3 that covers health is aimed to ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages and is the pivot that will drive the SGD agenda in Pakistan due to its centrality in human development. He said with the government fully focused on improving the lives of the people of Pakistan, it is imperative that the country is well prepared to enable full achievement of SDG targets and goalsHe said the ministry received full support of the provincial and area governments and departments of Health, the Ministry of Planning, Development and Reform and other relevant line ministries.

He said it is achievement for Pakistan that it is one of the first countries globally to complete the localization process which is a fundamental first step towards the long journey of achieving SDGs by 2030.