Global Leaders Urged to Prioritize SDG3 and SDG5 at UNGA
- 365healthdiaries
- Aug 30
- 2 min read
By Hamu Madzedze
Online Health Editor-Zimbabwe
As world leaders prepare to gather at the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), experts are sounding the alarm on the slow progress towards achieving Sustainable Development Goals 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and 5 (Gender Equality).
Founder Director of the Legal Caravan and a High Court lawyer Kavutha Mutua pointed out that despite having made great progress in the area of health and gender equality, fights are erupting from the anti-gender groups and anti-rights groups.
She said these groups are pushing for punitive laws and policies that hinder progress on gender equality and human rights.
"We have seen contradicting laws that again hinder access to these services for young women and girls, including the Geneva Consensus Declaration that we have continuously advocated against," Mutua added.
Benedicta Oyedayo Oyewole, Community Engagement and Partnership Lead at International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) Africa, emphasized the need to invest in primary healthcare and universal health coverage.
"Countries must ring-fence budget for primary health care , remove user fees for maternal and reproductive health and scale up midwives and community health workers," she said.
Oyewole also highlighted the importance of protecting progress against shocks.
"We see this roll back of rights coming with the influx of anti-right and anti-gender moves across the continent," she said, citing the example of The Gambia where there were moves to roll back the law that criminalized female genital mutilation.
Dr. Bikash Devkota, Secretary of the Department of Health and Population, Government of Nepal, shared Nepal's success story in improving health outcomes.
"Nepal has demonstrated that determined policies, community ownership and global solidarity can drive remarkable change," he said.
Nepal has made significant progress in reducing maternal mortality, eliminating rubella, and improving immunization coverage.
"We have reduced maternal mortality ratio by more than 70% over the last three decades," Devkota said.
Shobha Shukla ,Founded Executive Director CNS and SHR and Rights coordinator said there is a need for increased investment in healthcare, gender equality, and human rights.
"Let's turn promises into action and action into measurable results," said Shukla.
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