Health and well-being have a central role in the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) endorsed by the United Nations, emphasizing the integral part they play in building a sustainable future. The third SDG explicitly calls for ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages. This goal encompasses a wide range of health objectives, from reducing maternal and child mortality rates, combatting disease epidemics, to improving mental health and well-being. But beyond SDG 3, health is intrinsically linked with almost all the other goals.
When addressing SDG 1, which aims to end poverty, one cannot neglect the social determinants of health. Economic hardship often translates into poor nutrition, inadequate housing, and limited access to health care, leading to a vicious cycle of poverty and poor health. Similarly, achieving SDG 2, ending hunger, also contributes to better health through adequate nutrition, essential for physical and mental development and the prevention of various diseases.
Conversely, the repercussions of climate change, encapsulated in SDG 13, profoundly impact health. Rising global temperatures can lead to increased spread of infectious diseases, compromised food and water supplies, and increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, all posing severe health risks. Conversely, the promotion of good health can also mitigate climate change through the reduction of carbon-intensive lifestyles and adoption of healthier, more sustainable behaviors.
SDG 5, advocating for gender equality, also has substantial health implications. Ensuring women's access to sexual and reproductive health services not only improves their health outcomes, but also contributes to societal and economic development. Furthermore, achieving SDG 4, quality education, is also critical for health promotion. Education fosters health literacy, empowering individuals to make informed health decisions, hence improving overall community health.
Lastly, SDG 17 underlines the importance of partnerships for achieving these goals. Multi-sector collaboration is vital to integrate health considerations into all policies and practices. Stakeholders from various sectors, including health, education, agriculture, finance, and urban planning, need to align their efforts in creating sustainable environments that foster health and well-being.
Hence, the relationship between health, well-being, and the SDGs is reciprocal. Improving health and well-being helps in achieving sustainable development, and vice versa. In this context, health and well-being are not just outcomes but are also powerful enablers of sustainable development. For the world to truly thrive, it must recognize and act upon these interconnections.
Head and neck cancer (HNC) is the sixth most prevalent cancer worldwide with a poor prognosis when diagnosed at advanced clinical stages. The main risk factors are tobacco consumption and alcohol abuse. The article discusses the use of liquid biopsies as a minimally invasive diagnostic tool for HPV-positive head and neck cancer, as it could improve access to early cancer detection and monitoring.
The article discusses the integration of justice enablers, including recognitional, procedural, and distributive justice, into climate-health adaptation planning in South America.
International Day of Play 2026
The International Day of Play is observed each year on June 11. Proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 2024, this day recognizes the essential role of play in human development. It aims to raise awareness, promote policy change, and support efforts to make play accessible for all—especially children—regardless of background or circumstance.
The Significance of Play
Effective early recognition and standardized triage systems, such as the UK�s Birmingham Symptom-specific Obstetric Triage System, are essential for timely intervention in obstetric emergencies, especially amid rising complexities and health inequalities. Prioritizing inclusive, patient-centered care, robust safety investigations, and multidisciplinary teamwork are crucial for improving maternal and neonatal outcomes and ensuring equitable, high-quality maternity services.
Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare, 2025, 101122
This study identifies key barriers to quality maternal and newborn healthcare in Zanzibar, including resource shortages, poor working conditions, and cultural factors, emphasizing the need for improved infrastructure and culturally sensitive approaches to enhance health outcomes.
The World Health Organization reports that cervical cancer ranks as the eighth most common cancer worldwide and is the ninth leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Cervical cancer is a significant global health challenge, with high incidence and mortality rates, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. While immunotherapy has emerged as a promising strategy, its efficacy is variable among patients. Predictive biomarkers are essential for identifying patients most likely to benefit from immunotherapy.
World Bicycle Day 2026
World Bicycle Day is observed annually on June 3. Proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 2018, the day celebrates the bicycle as a simple, affordable, reliable, and environmentally sound mode of transportation. It also raises awareness of the benefits of cycling for health, well-being, and sustainable development.
International Day of Plant Health 2026
The International Day of Plant Health is observed each year on May 12. Established by the United Nations and supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization, the day raises awareness about the role of plant health in protecting food security, environmental balance, and economic stability. This observance encourages action to prevent the spread of plant pests and diseases, which threaten crops, livelihoods, and the planet’s ecosystems.
This study employs high-resolution UAV thermal imagery and machine learning to analyze microscale urban heat patterns in a vulnerable residential neighborhood in Daejeon, South Korea, identifying key factors such as alley width and proximity to rivers that influence thermal vulnerability. By informing targeted heat mitigation strategies in urban regeneration areas, the research supports SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 13 (Climate Action), advancing the World Population Day goal to �Leave No One Behind� by addressing localized climate risks in densely populated, marginalized urban settings.
