Unit 4, Area of Study 2- Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

What is SDG 3?

Good Health and Wellbeing:

-Contributes to the achievement of the many SDGs, in turn the achievement of other SDGs helps to achieve good health and wellbeing.

-Ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all ages.

What are the key features of SDG 3?

-Maternal and child health and wellbeing.

-Communicable diseases.

-Non-communicable diseases.

What are the key features of maternal and child health and wellbeing?

1. Reduce maternal mortality.

2. End preventable deaths of new-borns and children under five.

What are the causes of maternal mortality?

Severe bleeding, mostly after birth (haemorrhage), infection, usually after childbirth (sepsis), unsafe abortion, malnutrition in women and children.

What are the actions that could be taken to prevent maternal mortality?

All women have access to sexual health and reproductive healthcare services, universal health coverage must be achieved, preventing deaths of new-borns and children under 5.

What is the action “All women should have access to sexual health and reproductive healthcare services, including antenatal care” ?

Antenatal care means there are qualified healthcare workers available who can monitor the health of the mother and baby to reduce risks and deaths. A minimum of four antenatal visits are needed.

What is the action “ universal health coverage must be achieved”?

Blood pressure can be monitored and treated, which can prevent death from eclampsia and pre-eclampsia, as well as receiving treatment for HIV if needed and immunisation to prevent infection.

What is the action “preventing deaths of new-borns and children under 5”?

Access to universal healthcare, immunisation, clean water and sanitation, provide access to nutritious food, encourage breastfeeding, sexual and reproductive healthcare.

What actions can be taken to prevent deaths of new-borns and children under 5?

All women have access to sexual and reproductive healthcare services, including antenatal care and safe birthing practices, provide access to nutritious food, encourage breastfeeding, sexual and reproductive healthcare.

What is the action “all women have access to sexual and reproductive healthcare services, including antenatal care and safe birthing practices”?

Provide access to nutritious food, encourage breastfeeding, sexual and reproductive healthcare.

What action is “provide access to nutritious food”?

Many children continue to die from malnutrition so it is important they are provided with nutritious food once breastfeeding has finished.

What action is “encourage breastfeeding”?

Breastfeeding ensures new-borns are well-nourished. Breast milk also provides immunity against infection and helps protect deaths from dehydration due to diarrhoea and malnutrition.

What action is “sexual and reproductive healthcare”?

Qualified healthcare workers can monitor the health of the mother and baby and reduce risks leading to premature birth. Safe birthing practices help reduce death from sepsis (poisoning) and complications during birth such as asphyxia and birth trauma.

What is the key feature; communicable disease?

-End the epidemics of AIDs, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases and combat hepatitis.

-It aims to reduce the impact of communicable diseases with a focus on long-term diseases with the largest burden.

What actions end the AIDs epidemic?

Increase knowledge and understanding about HIV and AIDs, fund research and development into finding a vaccine, remove barriers of discrimination, increase access to and the use of condoms, promote gender equality, invest in healthcare services to enable diagnosis and access to ART treatment.

What action is “increase knowledge and understanding of HIV and AIDS”?

There is currently no vaccine or cure for the disease, which means there is currently no way to cure someone with HIV/AIDS. ART can help prevent the transition from HIV to AIDS but does not cure the disease.

What action is “remove barriers to discrimination of those with HIV/AIDS”?

Many HIV/AIDS sufferers face discrimination and stigma, which prevents them from seeking diagnosis and treatment.

What action is “increase the access to, and the use of, condoms”?

Condoms help to prevent the spread of the HIV but many couples are unable to access or afford them or do not understand why they are important to use.

What are the actions for ending the malaria epidemic?

More effective medicines, more access to the indoor spraying of homes, mass distribution of insecticide-treated bed nets.

What action is “more effective medicines”?

The malaria parasite is developing resistance to the current pesticides and antimalarial medicines, so it is important to develop medicines that will remain effective in treating and preventing malaria.

What action is “more access to the indoor spraying of homes”?

Spraying the indoor rooms where people live is an effective way to kill mosquitoes indoors and prevent them from coming into homes.

What action is “mass distribution of insecticide-treated bed nets”?

Mosquitoes bite children and adults while they sleep and bed nets keep people protected from mosquitoes that carry malaria.

What is tuberculosis?

A disease that affects the lungs and is highly contagious and is caused by bacteria spread via the air.

What are the actions for ending the TB epidemic?

Funding for development of new and better ways to diagnosed TB and develop resistant drugs and vaccines, provide universal health coverage.

What action is “funding for development of new and better ways to diagnose TB and develop resistant drugs and vaccines”?

Better vaccines are currently being developed to prevent TB in adults and to better treat drug-resistant TB.

What action is “provide universal health coverage”?

This would mean that all people would have access to vaccination, early detection and effective treatment, especially those who are poor and are at greater risk.

What action is “access to clean water and sanitation”?

This is important in preventing the spread of TB, particularly through access to sanitation.

What are Neglected Tropical Diseases?

-NTDs are a broad group of 20 diseases and conditions that mainly occur in tropical and subtropical environments.

-The range of diseases are transmitted differently and caused by a variety of pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, parasites, fungi and toxins.

-Two parasitic conditions that are responsible for considerable morbidity and disability are schistomiasis which affects over 220 million people, and trachoma, which is responsible for an estimated 1.9 million people being visually impaired.

What is schistomiasis?

A worm infection that occurs when people swim, bathe or have contact with fresh water contaminated with human excreta.

What is trachoma?

A bacterial infection of the eye that can cause complications including blindness.

What actions end the epidemic of NTDs?

Access to clean water and sanitation, veterinary public health measures for diseases and infections that are transmitted between animals and humans.

What is the action “access to clean water and sanitation”?

Many NTDs are spread through contaminated water or breed in stagnant water. Clean water and sanitation will help to limit the breeding of pathogens.

What is the action “veterinary public health measures for infections that are transmitted between animals and humans”?

Animals that carry pathogens can transfer these to people who live and work in close contact with them. Veterinary practices can remove microbes or prevent them spreading, including mass vaccination of dogs to prevent rabies.

What are the actions for combatting hepatitis?

Large-scale vaccination programs for hepatitis A, B and E, safe practices in healthcare and settings for blood and surgical safety.

What action is “large-scale vaccination programs for hepatitis A, B and E” ?

Can be prevented through immunisation. particularly hepatitis B vaccinations, which can be given to new-borns in the first 24 hours.

What action is “safe practices in healthcare settings to ensure blood and surgical safety”?

This will reduce the chances of people getting hepatitis B and C through unsafe injections and medical procedures. Blood supplies can be screened and confirmed safe before being used for blood transfusions.

What are the actions that need to be taken to reduce premature mortality from NCDs?

Encourage regular physical activity, place taxes on alcohol and tobacco products and sugar sweetened drinks, develop laws for easy-to-understand food labelling.

What action is “encourage physical activity”?

Lack of physical activity is a risk factor for non-communicable diseases so it is important to support people to increase their physical activity levels.

What action is “place taxes on alcohol and tobacco products and sugar sweetened drinks”?

Alcohol and tobacco are major risk factors for non-communicable diseases. Implementing taxes increases the price of these products, which is known to decrease their consumption.

What action is “develop laws for easy-to-understand food labelling”?

Many people are unaware of the nutritional contents of packaged foods and food labels are often confusing. If people had clear nutrition information about the food they eat, it would help people make healthy food choices. A poor diet is a risk factor for non-communicable diseases.

What actions need to be taken to promote health and wellbeing?

Implement strategies to promote mental health and wellbeing, strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse and fund healthcare services and qualified mental healthcare staff.

What action is “implement strategies to promote mental health and wellbeing”?

Conditions such as depression can be prevented by including positive thinking programs in school curriculums and providing support programs for parents of children with behavioural problems.

What action is “increase the priority for the promotion of mental health and wellbeing”?

Governments need to prioritise mental health and wellbeing, including those in low and middle income countries. This includes putting in place anti discrimination laws and social protection for those who suffer from mental health conditions.

What action is “fund healthcare services and qualified mental healthcare staff”?

The availability of specialist and general mental health workers is very low in low and middle-income countries, with almost half of the world’s population living in an area where there is only one psychiatrist for approximately 200 000 people.

What are the actions for reducing deaths and injuries from road traffic accidents?

Increase funding for driver education programs, invest in road infrastructure, implement a range of healthy public policies.

What are the actions for reduce deaths and illness from hazardous chemicals?

Monitor air pollution levels, reduce vehicle emissions, and invest in public transport system, funding and incentives for clean energy sources.

What are the features of SDG 1: No Poverty?

Is about taking action to end poverty and inequality within and among countries:

-Ending extreme poverty, which is measured as people living on less than PPP$2.15 a day.

-Reducing the proportion of men, women and children living in poverty by half.

-Putting in place social protection systems.

What are social protection measures?

measures put in place to prevent individuals and families from suffering from poverty because of a crisis or other unexpected event. E.g. healthcare, welfare payments, NDIS.

What is microfinance?

small, low-cost financial services for poor people that involve low-interest loans to develop small buisnesses.

What are the key features of SDG 1?

-End extreme poverty.

-Reduce the proportion of men, women and children living in poverty.

How does SDG 1 reduce maternal mortality?

-Women will be able to afford prenatal care and give birth in a medical clinic.

-Women will be able to afford nutritious food and clean water to enjoy a healthy pregnancy.

How does SDG 1 reduce U5MR?

-Being born in a medical clinic will reduce the risk of infections such as tetanus, which leads to many deaths of newborns.

-Being able to access health care and ensure children are vaccinated against infectious diseases such as measles, which is a major cause of death for children.

How does SDG end epidemics of AIDs, TB, malaria and neglected tropical diseases?

-Being able to afford clean water and improved sanitation will reduce exposure to malaria and a range of NTDs.

-Being able to afford healthcare enables early diagnosis of conditions and the appropriate medication and treatment such as ART to reduce the incidence of AIDs. Access to antibiotics and antimalarial medication will help reduce cases of TB, malaria and many NTDs.

What are the key features of SDG 2: Zero Hunger?

-End hunger and ensure access to safe, nutritious food.

-End all forms of malnutrition.

How does SDG 2 achieve maternal mortality?

Having access to nutritious food during pregnancy prevents death from a range of micronutrient deficiencies, including iron, vitamin A, and iodine.

How does SDG 2 reduce U5MR?

-Hunger weakens the immune system and children become too weak to fight off disease.

-Children suffering from hunger have increased frequency and severity of diseases such as pneumonia, measles, malaria and diarrhoea, and are at greater risk of dying from these conditions.

How does SDG 2 reduce non-communicable diseases and promote mental health and wellbeing?

Reducing levels of childhood obesity reduces the risk of obesity in adulthood, which can reduce the risk of developing non-communicable diseases such as CVD, cancer, respiratory diseases and type 2 diabetes.

What are the key features of SDG 4: quality education?

All children have equal access to high quality education at all levels.

How does SDG 4 reduce maternal mortality?

-Having an education improved opportunities for employment, and an income, which allows families to purchase nutritious food, clean water and healthcare, which promotes a healthy pregnancy and safer birth.

-Educated mothers have fewer children, which reduces the stress on their bodies and improves the changes of having a safe pregnancy and fewer birth complications.

How does SDG 4 reduce U5MR?

-Educated mothers have fewer and healthier children because their bodies are more likely to be physically ready to support a healthy pregnancy.

-Educated mothers are more likely to immunise their children and their children have a 40 per cent higher survival rate.

How does SDG 4 reduce epidemics of AIDs, Tb, malaria and NTDs?

-Educated mothers are less likely to be victims of trafficking and violence and are more likely to protect themselves from diseases such as HIV/AIDs.

-People are able to access preventative and curative health services, which addresses many infectious diseases.

How does SDG reduce non-communicable diseases and promote mental health and wellbeing?

With greater access to healthcare, early diagnosis of many of the risk associated with non-communicable diseases is possible and these diseases can be managed or treated.

What are the key features of SDG 5?

-End all forms of discrimination against women and girls.

-Eliminate harmful practices such as child, early and forced marriages and female genital mutilation.

-Ensure women have control over their sexual and reproductive health and can access reproductive health services.

How does SDG 5 reduce maternal mortality?

-Having an education improves opportunities for employment and an income, which allows families to purchase nutritious food, clean water and healthcare, which promotes a healthy pregnancy and safer birth.

-With control over their sexual and reproductive health and the ability to access reproductive health services, women are able to obtain antenatal care and time and space their births, which helps with a healthy pregnancy and safer delivery.

How does SDG 5 reduce U5MR?

How does SDG 5 reduce U5MR?

-Eliminating female genital mutilation will reduce the risk of complications during pregnancy and the premature death of new-borns.

-Control over sexual and reproductive health contributes to a healthier pregnancy, and fewer complications and deaths of new-borns.

How does SDG 5 end epidemics of AIDs, TB, malaria and NTDs?

-Eliminating female mutilation will reduce the risk of contracting and spreading diseases such as HIV/AIDs.

-Achieving gender equality reduces the risk of trafficking and violence, which reduces the risks of contracting and spreading diseases such as HIV/AIDs.

What are the key features of SDG 6?

-Ensure everyone has access to safe and affordable drinking water, sanitation and hygiene.

-Improve water quality by reducing pollution.

How does SDG 6 reduce maternal mortality?

-Reducing communicable diseases such as diarrhoea, typhoid, cholera and COVID-19 means women will have good health during pregnancy, which will reduce the chances of dying during childbirth.

-Safe water and sanitation in medical facilities will reduce the risk of bacterial contamination and infection, which will reduce maternal mortality.

How does SDG 6 reduce U5MR?

-Diarrhoea is a major cause of mortality for new-borns and children. Clean water and sanitation will contribute to significant improvements in U5MR.

-Clean water and sanitation will help reduce cases of malnutrition in children, which will reduce U5MR.

How does SDG 6 end epidemics of AIDs, TB, malaria and NTDs?

-Contaminated water is a major cause of NTDs. Ending the epidemic off NTDs is dependent upon improving water quality and ensuring there is safe water and sanitation.

-The incidence of malaria can be greatly reduced with safe water and sanitation because it removes stagnant water that provides a breeding ground for malaria mosquitoes.

What are the key features of SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production?

-Make efficient use of our natural resources.

-Reduce food waste.

-Ensure the responsible management of chemicals and waste.

-Reduce waste and increase recycling

-Reduce our reliance on fossil fuels.

What is material footprint?

The total amount of raw materials used to meet final consumption demands. It is one indication of the pressures placed on the environment to support economic growth and to satisfy the material needs of people.

What is a circular economy?

A system where materials never become wasted and nature is regenerated.

What is WHO?

Branch of Un.

Goal: promote, provide and protect health and wellbeing for all people, everywhere.

What are the three parts of the WHOs goal?

1.Promote health: healthier populations.

2.Provide health: universal health coverage.

3.Protect health: health emergencies.

What are health determinants?

Factors that have a significant influence on health. Include factors such as where we live, the state of our environment, genetics, etc.

What is primary healthcare?

An approach to health that addresses the broader determinants that affect health and focuses on the equity of access to healthcare services.

(Objectives of WHO) what is promote health: healthier populations?

Respond to climate change, which is an increasing health threat.

Address health determinants and the main causes of ill health.

What is provide health: universal health coverage?

Advance primary health care and essential health system capacities for universal health coverage.

Improve health service coverage and financial protection to address inequity and gender inequalities.

What is protect health: health emergencies?

Prevent, mitigate and prepare for risks to health from all hazards.

-Rapidly detect and sustain and effective response to all health emergencies.

What is the WHO objective: respond to climate change?

Address health determinants and the main causes of ill health:

-The conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live and age have a significant effect on their health and wellbeing

What is humanitarian assistance?

The immediate assistance given to people or countries in response to a crisis, such as a flood, tsunami, earthquake or conflict.

It can include:

-Provision of food, water, medicines and shelter.

-Healthcare workers, doctors or emergency workers from other countries or aid organisations.

-It is designed to help keep people alive and address immediate needs but does not directly address the underlying causes of poverty and ends once the emergency is over.

What is bilaterial aid?

-The government of one country (the donor country) provides support directly to the governments of another country (the recipient country).

-It is designed to help the recipient country strengthen their economic, health, education and political systems so they can become self sufficient.

E.g. community based projects like immunisation programs, building water treatment plants, roads and other infrastructure.

What is multilateral aid?

-Assistance provided through large global organisations, such as World Bank, United Nations, etc.

-Governments provide money to multilateral organisations that then combine funds from many other countries and use funds to support countries in need.

Often used to address global issues such as:

-Humanitarian assistance through the World Food Programme during periods of famine.

-Funding action for global warming and control of diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis.

What is aid provided by NGOs?

-Non-profit organisation that work to promote health and human development.

-They operate independently of governments, however, many of these organisations receive funding from governments as well as funds from public donations.

Examples— world vision, caritas, oxfam and the International Red Cross.

(Australia’s Aid partnerships) what is whole of government?

(The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade manages Australia’s aid program)

While DAT is responsible for administering our international aid program, it also works with many other government departments and agencies that are also involved in providing assistance to other countries.

What is private sector partnerships?

DFAT partners with a range of companies within the private sector as a means of achieving its aid and development objectives, e.g. Westpac Corporate Partnership.

What is bilateral partnerships?

The effectiveness of Australian aid is increased through bilateral partnerships with other countries where experience and resources can be combined.

What is multilateral organisations?

Organisations including the World Bank and UN, and their many agencies such as the World Food Programme and the WHO, extend the reach of Australia’s aid program. Their large size enables them to undertake projects on a scale that would not be possible for donors such as Australia.

What is NGOs?

DFAT partners with many NGOs to complement its aid program.

What are the outcomes of effective aid?

Reduce poverty and inequality in low and middle income countries, promote human rights, move towards a more equal and stable global system, help achieve the SDG.

(Taking individual action) what are things that you can do from the couch?

-Turn off the lights.

-If you notice harassment on a message board or in a chat rom, report that person.

-Drink tap water rather than bottled water.

What are things you can do at home?

-Let your hair and clothes dry naturally instead of using a dryer.

-Take short showers to save water.

-Put a jumper on in winter or dress in light clothes in summer to avoid using heaters or air conditioners.

What are things you can do at work?

-Speak up against any type of discrimination in your workplace.

-Talk to your work colleagues about introducing a recycling program.

-Encourage your workplace to use energy efficient heating and cooling technology.

What are things you can do in the community?

-Vote for political candidates with strong environmental policies.

-Shop local to keep people employed and help prevent trucks from driving long distances.

-Bike, walk or take public transport.

How can individuals take social action?

Donate money to NGOs, sign petitions, organise a boycott, lobby governments.