The third of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals is to “ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.”
However, people around the world are not equal in health and well-being.
For example, people in developed countries — who tend to have higher incomes and access to better technology — are more likely to have better health and well-being.
To reduce the number of disadvantaged people, good health and well-being for all needs to be promoted by governments worldwide to protect the rights of their citizens.
As no country can stand alone, each government should assist other countries to achieve good health and well-being.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, good administration of vaccine delivery improved people’s well-being.
As infectious diseases can spread from one country to another, countries that have vaccines in a future emergency should distribute vaccines to other countries immediately to help prevent outbreaks.
Moreover, an environmental crisis in one country can affect others.
For example, with Japan releasing wastewater from the crippled Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean, countries that might be affected should have been allowed to participate in the decisionmaking process.
This would have protected the good health and well-being of people in all countries.
To avoid widespread environmental damage, cooperation between nations is required. They need to share essential knowledge and technology to resolve problems. This could help accomplish the Sustainable Development Goals, not only in one country, but in the whole world.
When resources are effectively shared internationally, people in any part of the world have equal access to physical and psychological well-being.
Good sustainable development strategies by governments in all countries would benefit all people.
Phathara-on Wesarat is head of the Bachelor of Business Administration Program in the Humanities and Social Sciences Department at Prince of Songkla University in Thailand.
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