Health inequalities: a global crisis that shortens lives and hinders development

Health inequality: a global crisis that shortens lives and hinders development

From time to time, global data reveals the extent of the efforts made to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in many sectors, but there is still a long way to go before achieving tangible achievements in the field of health. The most important Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

This is because the day of your birth, the color of your skin, or the level of education of your parents can become one of the influences that intersect with your health and the extent of your physical safety with every year you live! This is neither fiction nor exaggeration, but rather a fact documented with shocking numbers revealed by official reports issued by the World Health Organization.

Starting from here,Earth Guards In this article, we will discuss the aspects of health inequalities, which are the aspects that impede the path to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as well as their direct relationship to depriving millions of years that could have been full of life and production. So continue reading the article.

The roots of the health crisis

It seems that the path to good health does not pass only through hospitals and clinics, but begins with place of residence, type of education, and opportunities for decent work. In this regard, a recent global report issued by the World Health Organization explains that the fundamental causes of ill health in the world are not necessarily organic or medical causes, but may be social causes in essence. That is, it relates to the extent of achieving equality in access to appropriate health services, from birth until death.

The report indicates that these “social determinants of health” are responsible for reducing life expectancy in some countries by up to 33 years, compared to countries that are more equitable in their health sector. Here the rift in efforts to achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is clearly visible, especially Goal No. (3) Good Health and Well-Being.

When childbirth is a healthy rule

The World Health Organization confirms that gaps in life expectancy reflect, apart from biological considerations, degrees of social deprivation and discrimination. According to the report, health follows a “social ladder,” and the lower the individual is on this ladder, the less chance he has of living a healthy life.

Therefore, many indigenous peoples, for example, die young, receive lower-quality education, have lower incomes, and poor health. The secret behind this is that these peoples often inhabit environmentally sensitive areas such as coasts, mountains, and forests, and depend for their livelihood on traditional practices. Which makes it – according to the United Nations Environment Program– more vulnerable to delay and marginalization in efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially those efforts related to health.

In this regard, the Director-General of the World Health Organization – Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus – said in a shocking statement: “The place in which we are born, raised, live, work, and age greatly affects our health and well-being.” His statement is a clear call to take bold political decisions that address these determinants instead of being satisfied with health painkillers.

Children are the first victims and women are at the forefront

At the heart of the crisis is the tragedy of children in poor countries, where they are 13 times more likely to die before the age of five than their peers in rich countries. These numbers, documented by the World Health Organization, indicate the possibility of saving 1.8 million children – annually – by closing health equity gaps.

The disaster does not only concern children, even mothers suffer! Although their mortality rate has decreased – globally – by 40% from 2000 to 2023; 94% of these cases are found in poor or middle-income countries, especially among women who face conditions of marginalization and lack of empowerment.

In some high-income countries, there is a clear discrepancy, as maternal mortality rates among indigenous women are three times higher than among others. This disparity is linked to the lack of gender equality, child marriage, weak social protection, and inequality in health and its services.

The episode of social and health collapse

Global report links rising health inequality to environmental and economic degradation;Climate change – according to World Health Organization estimates – may push between 68 and 135 million people into extreme poverty in the next five years. Which leads to a further deterioration in health and life opportunities.

On the other hand, 3.8 billion people around the world lack basic social protection, such as maternity and sick leave. To make matters worse, the interest paid by the 75 poorest countries in the world has quadrupled in the past decade due to rising debt. This restricts the capabilities of governments and prevents them from investing in health and social justice.

So, it is clear that the health crisis reflects a collapse in the education, labor, justice and environmental systems in many countries, which requires a comprehensive rebuilding of the entire global human development system, in accordance with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially Goal No. (1) eradicating poverty, Goal No. (5) gender equality, and Goal No. (10) reducing inequalities.

A call for radical change

At the conclusion of its report, the World Health Organization called on governments to make a comprehensive change in their policies, by focusing on economic justice, investing in public services, eliminating all manifestations of discrimination, and responding to climate crises, conflicts, and forced migration. She drew attention to the fact that effective governance, local distribution of resources, and empowerment of communities; These are all steps that can make a real difference in improving health services in an equal and fair manner.

This call directly intersects with the vision ofEarth Guards, which sees health justice as the cornerstone of efforts to achieve comprehensive sustainable development; Building equitable health systems requires not only doctors and equipment, but also political courage, social protection networks, and strong communities capable of participation and change.

Hence, we atEarth Guardsbelieve that work for health justice is work to achieve peace, provide a safe environment, and build an equal society; Therefore, we call for activating the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in health and all aspects of life.