Good Health and Well-being: Is it attainable?
Having good health, in which it means physically, mentally and the overall well-being
of an individual is at its best condition, is rarely seen in individuals. Being healthy nowadays
is always promoted and has been the main concern of some but the execution for this is not
quite easy. More so, this goal of the Global Goals Organization is for the purpose of good
health for everyone worldwide, which in all honesty and knowing the situation of the
Philippines — this goal will be hard to fulfill by 2030.
According to the Global Goals Organization, this new goal is for the future of all
people’s well-being, globally, that promotes healthy lifestyles, preventive measures of
diseases and innovative ways of healthcare that resonate with good health. As a matter of
fact, this goal has a few targets that they wish to be achieved by 2030. Some of these that are
few of the main concerns in the country are; shrinking the number of cases of communicable
diseases, reducing the mortality rate from non-communicable diseases, and prevention of
substance use. Which are all in poor situations and have been rising in numbers, negatively.
As of February 2024, the latest data of the number of cases of Human Immunodeficiency
Virus (HIV) is 122,640 people, from January to September 2023 reported by the HIV/AIDS
and ART Registry of the Philippines (HARP). Even the Department of Health (DOH)
Undersecretary Eric Tayag, himself says that based on their estimation the number of HIV
cases may reach up to 500,000 in the next six years.This may imply that one of the targets is
not easy to achieve due to the rising number of HIV cases which is one of the communicable
diseases that the country trying to fight against. The country is not just concerned about
communicable diseases, they are too — on non-communicable diseases. One of these is
cardiovascular diseases. According to the State of Health, 76,900 people died from Ischaemic
heart diseases alone (heart weakening caused by reduced blood flow to heart). There are also
reported death cases for pneumonia, cancer, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases. In
February, 2024, DOH announced that the ages of people having cardiovascular related
diseases are becoming more and more younger in some regions of the country. They reported
some patients are as young as 10 years old having health issues that normally should occuring
in their 40s. It is stated that this is due to a poor and inactive lifestyle such as eating salty and
fatty foods and unhealthy practices like smoking or alcohol consumption. Alcohol
consumption, as well as drug usage are also the health-related issue that the country is trying
to fight against over the years.Trying to strengthen the prevention measures and treatment of
drug and alcohol abuse. Although, over the years, cases regarding the issues just continue to
fluctuate.
With all stated, it is concluded that one of the goals of the Sustainable Development
Goals which is “Good Health and Well-Being” may not be attainable. Due to the fact of the
situation that the Philippines has right now and has been, over the years. In instance, if all
health-related issues mentioned above will not decrease in numbers and will continue to rise
up. It will be really hard for the country and its people to even fight against it.
References;
https://sdg.neda.gov.ph/goal-3/
https://www.philstar.com/nation/2024/02/07/2331500/doh-logs-120000-hiv-cases/amp/
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1221407
https://www.statista.com/statistics/1120528/philippines-leading-causes-mortality-by-disease/