Health, welfare are among UN development goals

BEIRUT, June 12 (KUNA) -- Ensuring a healthy lifestyle and well-being for all people are among the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) signed by world leaders in 2015, said the UN Information Center in Beirut Monday.
The UN Center in Beirut, in its third media publication on the goals of sustainable development, said that sustainable development could not be achieved if people lack the right to a healthy life and the resultant promotion of welfare for all ages.
The center pointed out to the major steps taken by governments around the world to reduce the rate of fatal diseases, child, and mothers death in addition to increase the possibility to get to clean water as well as sewage networks insurance, reducing malaria, tuberculosis, polio and reduce the spread of HIV.
Despite the population growth, the number of deaths under-five in the world declined from 12.7 million in 1990 to 3.6 million in 2013.
In order to achieve this goal in the next 15 years, the center will work to achieve comprehensive health coverage for individuals, including protection against financial risks and access to basic health care services.
The center also will work on preventing material misuse, including drugs and alcohol in addition to the implementation World Health Organization agreements to control tobacco in all countries.
The center as well supported research in the field of medicines for infectious and non-communicable diseases, in addition to increasing funds in the health sector and manpower recruitment at this sector.
It also stressed the importance of shared responsibility to ensure sustainable development as well as the need for comprehensive and balanced policies through renewed focus on human rights and public health.
The Kuwaiti Ministry of Health and within the national health strategy for the care of the elderly and its executive Plan 2016/2020 has prepared a national awareness campaign on the health of the elderly in the holy month of Ramadan by issuing brochures, booklets and awareness film deals with guidance on healthy nutrition for them.
The ministry announced a few days ago the launch of the first national report on the health status of older people, including basic indicators of their health status, which helps in the development of strategies and programs for the integrated care of the elderly.
The goals of the 17th sustainable development of the 2030 sustainable development plan were adopted at the World Summit hosted by the United Nations on September 2015 in New York and officially began to work on its application at the beginning of 2016. (end) ayb.ss