The United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development covers 17 goals, the third of which is “good health and well-being”, namely: Ensure healthy lives and?promote well-being at all ages. (Click here for details)

Under this major goal, there are thirteen targets, the third of which is “By 2030, end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases and combat hepatitis, water-borne diseases and other communicable diseases.”

● Current Situation

With the mega-city development, climate change, destruction of ecological environment and globalization, epidemics are spreading in an unprecedented way all over the world.

Photo source: WHO website 

Public health and security faces great challenges worldwide. Especially in the developing countries, traditional diseases cast serious threats on people’s health situation, and health inequalities are still prominent. Effective response to global health problems depends on the cross-region and cross-institution collaboration in the international communities. 

About the World

AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis are Major Infectious Diseases Causing Death 

Infectious diseases pose a serious threat to the health and life of people all over the world. AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis are the three major infectious diseases causing death. For example, in 2016 there were about 36.7 million people living with HIV, 1 million of whom died of HIV related diseases. There were about 216 million malaria cases in 91 countries, with a total of 445,000 deaths. About 10.4 million people suffered from tuberculosis and 1.7 million died as a result. The death ratio of the three infectious diseases among poverty population, especially in Africa and India, is much higher than that in other regions.

Photo source: WHO website

In order to help countries achieve the goal of “ending the epidemic” by 2030, scientists around the world are actively working on effective vaccines, medicines and diagnostic tools to save more lives.

Text source: Natural Research 

About China

Infectious Diseases are Big Challenges for Public Health

In the past year of 2019, China encountered complicated and difficult public health problems. Tuberculosis is one of the most infectious diseases with the largest number of new cases and deaths. According to the latest WHO data, the number of new cases of tuberculosis in China has declined in recent years, but it is still the second highest in the world.

Infectious diseases are the major challenges for public health. Dr. Ren Minghui, assistant director-general of WHO, underlines that the Chinese government will continue to play a governmental leading role and increase financial investment in public health. The Chinese government will further reduce the prices of public health medicines and vaccines by increasing funding and making good use of the medical insurance catalog along with its pricing negotiation mechanism.

Text and photo source: WHO website

● Cases

About the World

Zero Malaria Starts with Me

On World Malaria Day, April 25, 2020, WHO joined the RBM Partnership to end malaria in promoting “zero malaria starts with me”, a grassroots campaign that aims to keep malaria high on the political agenda, mobilize additional resources, and empower communities to take ownership of malaria prevention and care.

In the lead-up to this year’s World Malaria Day, countries across the globe are in the throes of responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.?WHO underlines the critical importance of sustaining efforts to prevent, detect and treat malaria, using best practices to protect health workers and communities from COVID-19 infection.

Text and photo source: WHO website

About China

Pulmonary Tuberculosis Treatment First Covered by Serious Disease Medical Insurance

Photo source: Shenzhen Economic Daily

On November 1, 2018, Shenzhen Municipal Bureau of Human Resources and Social Security issued a notice to include pulmonary tuberculosis in the serious diseases in outpatient service. A maximum of 90% of medical expenses for pulmonary tuberculosis treatment can be reimbursed with medical insurance. Shenzhen is the first city in China where pulmonary tuberculosis treatment is covered by the serious disease medical insurance. It not only provides financial support for preventing and controlling tuberculosis, but also releases the tuberculosis patients’ finical burdens.

● Background

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Initiated by the United Nations

On January 1, 2016, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including 169 targets, of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development - adopted by world leaders in September 2015 at an historic UN Summit — officially came into force. Countries will mobilize efforts to end all forms of poverty, fight inequalities and tackle climate change, while ensuring that no one is left behind.