noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) including heart disease, cancer and diabetes;
mental health and substance use including narcotics and harmful use of alcohol;
injuries and violence; and
universal health coverage.
"Snapshots" on 34 different health topics outline trends, achievements made, reasons for success, challenges and strategic priorities for improving health in the different areas. These "snapshots" range from air pollution to hepatitis to road traffic injuries.
In this report, WHO also explores how health contributes to and benefits from the other 16 SDGs and examines the implications of emerging issues such as technological and environmental change on global health.

WHO's work aligned with SDG health targets

The SDG health-related targets closely reflect the main priorities in WHO's programme of work for 2014-2019; many of these targets have already been agreed by Member States in the World Health Assembly. For example, the global voluntary targets for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases set in 2013 are closely linked to SDG Target 3.4, to reduce premature NCD mortality by one third by 2030. The WHO governing bodies will have a critical role in follow-up and review of implementation of the health-related SDGs.

"One of the biggest challenges will be measuring progress across a staggering number of targets, particularly with the lack of health data in developing countries," says Dr Kieny. The SDG monitoring requires regular, high-quality data, for example on the causes of death, from all population groups so that we know where we need to target resources."

WHO is working with partners to establish a Health Data Collaborative in early 2016 that aims to support countries to build better health data systems. An early product of this global collaboration is the "WHO Global Reference List of 100 Core Indicators", published earlier this year, which is already being used to guide work in many countries.

"As the global agency with the mandate to cover the whole health agenda, WHO will take a leading role in supporting countries to set their own national targets and strategies, advising on best-buy interventions, defining research priorities and monitoring progress in achieving the health-related SDGs," says Dr Kieny.

In 2016, WHO will publish the first in a series of annual reports on the SDGs to set the baseline and measure progress towards achieving the goals over the next 15 years.

Media contacts
Tarik Jasarevic
Communications Officer
Telephone: +41 22 791 5099
Mobile: +41 79 367 6214
Email: jasarevict@who.int

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