The unprecedented health crisis that has plagued the world since 2020 has not only put on the table the close relationship between human and planetary health, but also the need and importance of consolidating robust public health systems. Although the last year and a half has turned the health situation in every corner of the world, before the onset of the pandemic they were achieved important advances in improving the health of millions of people, Such as increased life expectancy or reduced maternal and child mortality.
Sanitation, hygiene, access to medical personnel or efficient financing are the pillars on which, according to the United Nations, health systems must be (re) built, so that they are resilient and efficient. Because, as the UN says, unlike other epidemics such as HIV or malaria, covid-19 has been “a turning point in terms of preparedness for health emergencies and investment in vital 21st century public services. “
The ODS in figures
- More than five million children under the age of five die annually, four out of five do so in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
- Measles vaccines have prevented 15.6 million deaths since the turn of the century.
- The level of education of mothers affects the chances of children surviving.
- Since 2000, maternal mortality has decreased by 37%.
- The maternal mortality rate (during or due to childbirth) is 14 times higher in developing regions than in developed ones.
- In developing regions, prenatal care increased by 18% between 1990 and 2012; however, only half of the women in these areas receive the necessary medical care.
- In 2020, 37.7 million people were living with HIV and 680,000 died because of it.
- Last year, 27.5 million people had access to antiretroviral therapy.
- 1.5 million people contracted HIV in 2020 and 6.1 million people were unaware they were living with the virus.
- An estimated 79.3 million people have contracted HIV infection since the start of the epidemic.
- 36.3 million people have died from AIDS-related diseases since the beginning of the epidemic.
- HIV is the leading cause of death for women of childbearing age worldwide.
Goals for 2030
- Reduce the global maternal mortality rate to less than 70 per 100,000 live births.
- End the preventable deaths of infants and children under 5 years of age.
- End the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases and fight hepatitis and waterborne diseases.
- Promote the prevention and treatment of non-communicable diseases and promote mental health and well-being.
- Strengthen the prevention and treatment of addictive substance abuse, such as narcotics or alcohol.
- Reduce by half the number of deaths and injuries caused by traffic accidents in the world.
- Guarantee universal access to sexual and reproductive health services.
- Achieve universal health coverage.
- Substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses caused by hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution.
- Strengthen the implementation of the Framework Convention of the World Health Organization for Tobacco Control in all countries.
- Support research and development of vaccines and medicines for communicable and non-communicable diseases that primarily affect developing countries and facilitate access to affordable essential medicines and vaccines.
- Increase health funding and recruitment, development, training and retention of health personnel in developing countries.
- Strengthen the capacity for early warning, risk reduction and risk management for national and global health.
The ODS in Spain
- Spain has 13,000 Primary Care Centers and 467 hospitals throughout the country.
- The annual public expenditure on health is 74 billion euros; the private sector, at 31 billion euros; and the total annual to 105 billion euros (2,255 euros per inhabitant).
- In 2019, 2,698 new HIV cases were diagnosed in Spain.
- Since the beginning of the epidemic, 88,367 cases of AIDS have been diagnosed in all the autonomous communities.
- 414 people died in 2019 from HIV-related illnesses.