(2nd meeting) High-Level Political Forum 2025

Excellencies, distinguished delegates, good afternoon. The 2nd meeting of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, convened under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council at its 2025 session, is called to order. Excellencies, Distinguished delegates, I invite the Forum to begin its considerations of Sub-item A of Agenda Item 2, Review of Sustainable Development Goals 3, 5, 8, 14, and 17, to hold an interactive panel, panel discussions on SDG 13 and interlinkages with other SDGs. ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. The panel discussions will explore challenges and opportunities in advancing key solutions to accelerate progress toward SDG 3, ensuring healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. Despite significant scientific and technological advancements, none of the SDG 3 targets have been achieved, and current trends indicate that none are on track. Numerous challenges and megatrends, including climate change, biodiversity loss, air pollution, urbanization, Demographic shifts and aging populations pose new questions and issues that must be addressed to make progress on SDG 3. Rising conflict, displacement, humanitarian emergencies, and natural hazards exacerbate the divide between the well-off and those suffering the most severe health consequences. I first invite the Forum to view a video prepared by the Statistics Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, showcasing the findings from the Sustainable Development Goals Report 2025 on the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 3. Please play the video.

Progress, but not enough to meet global targets. Life expectancy rose by 5 years between 2000 and 2019, but COVID-19 reversed some of that progress, reducing it by 1.8 years. Between 2015 and 2023, The maternal mortality ratio dropped by 14% and the under-5 mortality rate declined by 16%. But current maternal mortality ratio remains 3 times the SDG target and, at current trends, 30 million under-5 deaths are projected by 2030. The world has made major strides in combating infectious diseases. Treatment halved AIDS-related deaths Between 2010 and 2023, malaria efforts saved 12.7 million lives and prevented 2.2 billion cases since 2000. By 2024, 54 countries had eliminated at least one neglected tropical disease. However, progress is not fast enough to achieve SDG and other global targets. Noncommunicable diseases cause more than half the deaths for people under age 70. Risk of dying from NCDs declined between 2015 and 2019, but plateaued between 2020 and 2021. COVID-19 also disrupted vaccine systems. Coverage of the 3rd dose of the diphtheria, Tetanus and pertussis vaccine reached 84% in 2023, still below pre-pandemic levels. The world suffered a global shortage of 14.7 million health workers in 2023, down from 15.4 million in 2020. To reach global health targets by By 2030, a substantial intensification of efforts is needed to address deep-seated inequalities, strengthen primary care, build resilient and inclusive health systems, and ensure universal access to quality care. Find more insights in the Sustainable Development Goals Report 2025.

Thank you. I now pleased to welcome our panelists, Ms. Magda Robalo, co-chair of International Health Partnership for UHC 2030 and president and co-founder of Institute for Global Health and Development of Guinea-Bissau, and Mr. Ibrahim Aboubacar, Professor of Infectious Disease, Epidemiology, and Dean of the Faculty of Population Health Sciences at the University College London, as well as our lead discussant. I'm also pleased to welcome our moderator, Mr. Tony Holohan, Director of the Center for One Health at the College of Health and Agricultural Sciences, and Adjunct Full Professor of Public Health at the University College Dublin. I now hand over the conduct of the discussion to the moderator. Mr. Tooney, you have the floor.

Thank you very much indeed, President. Excellencies, distinguished delegates, thank you for the invitation to moderate this important session. It's an honor and one that I take seriously, and we meet at as you've said, at a time when the world is facing multiple overlapping crises. There's no shortage of evidence that the systems that we rely on for health and well-being, for peace, and for economic and social development are under pressure. And this year's review of SDG 3 makes that clear. And while there's been progress in areas like child survival, immunization, and some essential services, the broad picture is concerning. The COVID-19 pandemic was caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Yes, that's true, but its impact was caused by inequality. It disrupted global health and well-being and widened those inequalities. Recovery has been uneven, and the underlying systems have not changed as much as we know they need to. We face growing challenges— antimicrobial resistance, pandemic risks, climate shocks, conflict and displacement, underinvestment in primary healthcare and healthcare coverage, and real concerns around trust in our public institutions. Gender inequality and threats to reproductive health remain stark, and at the same time, resources for global health, and for development more broadly, are declining. Political commitment is not always where it needs to be. The financial and institutional foundations of multilateralism are under strain. So if we're to make the progress that's needed between now and 2030, we cannot afford to think in the same ways. We need to change how we think about health and well-being. We've too often treated it as a downstream issue, something that improves only if other systems are working. But we now understand that health and well-being is not simply the result of good development. It's the starting point. It's a signal of whether a society is fair, whether a planet is liveable, or a system is working. And that's why I believe this year's discussion must not just be a review. It must be a reset. One that sees SDG 3 not as a standalone goal, but as the common thread running through the entire 2030 Agenda. And if we're serious about that, then we need to use frameworks that can work across boundaries. And that is what One Health enables us to do. It gives us a way and a language to recognize the deep interconnection between human, animal, plant, and environmental well-being. It allows us to conceive of and to build systems that are preventive, resilient, inclusive, and capable of managing the complexity we now face. One Health can help us to better understand, for example, the rise of non-communicable disease, food insecurity, water contamination, air pollution, and mental health distress. And it can bring these apparently diverse challenges together in a way that makes real solutions possible. So, President, I hope today's session will be honest, practical, and challenging, and I hope to hear where systems are shifting, where integration is working, and what still gets in the way, and how we can move beyond our silos in how we fund, in how we govern, and in our mindsets. And we have good people, as you've introduced, in the room, so let's use the moment wisely and let's begin. So if I may, in coming to the panel— and you've introduced, uh, Ms. Rabolo and Mr. Abubakar already, and I want to begin by asking each of the two of you, what can transform our approaches to addressing the known and emerging challenges to global health and well-being and get us back on track to the delivery of Sustainable Development Goal number 3? So, Magda.

Thank you so much, Your Excellency the Chair and the Moderator. I'm very pleased to be taking part in this conversation today on SDG 3. First of all, I would like to say that this conversation is critical and timely, not only because we stand at only 5 years to 2030, but because our collective progress is largely insufficient. It remains deeply unequal, and non-inclusive, leaving behind billions of people, particularly women, girls, and marginalized communities in especially low- and middle-income countries in the Global South. We are off track. We have seen the video to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, and progress on SDG 3 has stagnated or declined in recent years. We have 4.5 billion people, more than half of humanity, lacking access to basic health services, with 2 billion of them facing financial hardship when caring for their health, when looking for health costs which they have to pay for out of their own pockets. Inadequate investment in Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in SDG 3, is a result of compounded challenges among which are significant barriers to economic growth and to human capital development, perpetuating a vicious cycle of intergenerational poverty and disadvantage of low— in low- and middle-income countries. To the question, Mr. Moderator, that you asked on what can transform our approach to addressing known and emerging challenges, I would mention 3 critical elements. One, universal health coverage. 2 would be science, evidence, and innovation. And 3, reforms. On universal health coverage, we need to focus on UHC. Based on the principles of primary healthcare. Universal health coverage is critical not only for SDG 3, but is also a driver of sustainable development and the common thread running across the different SDGs. There is an urgent need to transition to more sustainable models of health financing, ensuring financial protection to shield people from impoverished health costs and embed integrated high-impact interventions into essential benefits package within primary healthcare, prioritizing people in vulnerable or marginalized contexts. My second point is science, evidence, and innovation. This must guide our efforts. We cannot solve today's problems and future problems with the same tools from the past. We cannot effectively address what we don't know. We lack context, we lack translation, we lack innovation that is not only commodity-driven but is primarily people-centered. We have many knowledge gaps and we lack disaggregated data, hindering our ability to make progress. Accelerating investments in capacity building for research in low- and middle-income countries is a must. Without data, there is no accountability. And then finally, reform. We need a new script. Global efforts to reform the global health and the global financial architecture grounded in global solidarity and international cooperation is going to make it or break it. Official development assistance remains essential for many low and lower-middle-income countries, and national health priorities and systems must be inclusive and aligned with donor priorities or donor requests. We need to reform discriminatory funding practices that block equitable access to health services. Donors need to improve coordination and provide predictable funding consistent with the Lusaka Agenda. It is urgent to focus on mitigating the rise in debt servicing to expand fiscal space for health. Globally, in 2024, 3.4 billion people lived in countries that spend more on debt interest payments than on education and health combined. This unsustainable burden contributes to overreliance on aid and limits countries' ability to invest in health. Governments need to demonstrate courageous leadership to implement or increase taxes on health-harming products. Increased taxes on tobacco, on alcohol, and sugar-sweetened beverages could generate $1 trillion in additional government revenues over the next decade. Ladies and gentlemen, these are the 3 proposed, among many other priorities, that we need to focus on to advance SDG 3, and I thank you, Mr. Moderator.

Thank you very much indeed, Magdalena. And then I come on to Professor Thank you very much indeed. I come on to Professor Abubakar and the same question to you, and 3 minutes if you don't mind.

Thank you, Moderator. Mr. President, Your Excellencies, delegates, ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon. Also a real pleasure to be here, even if we are faced with staggering statistics about the dire state of our mission to achieve SDG 3. I therefore agree with you that if we are to make a difference, our actions must be transformational, because the status quo will not lead to achieving SDG 3 in 5 years. You won't be surprised to hear I agree with your interventions and with those of Magda Robalo about the areas of concrete action, and I will also talk about 3 key areas. The first is, if we are serious, we must go beyond paying lip service to cross-government, cross-sector action, that we all talk about for decades. Given the multiple challenges we face, we must truly understand that health is more than just pills and hospitals. We must act across housing, climate resilience, education, and finance. This means every major decision, whether it's economic, environmental, or social, should be evaluated with a health lens. What does it mean for the health of your population and therefore the prosperity of your individual countries. This would allow us to tackle the social and commercial determinants of health, and there are indeed commercial determinants of health, and this would be vital, much more vital than just treating disease, but I'll come back to that. Political leaders must realize that this represents a true investment in the future prosperity of their societies. My second point is we must rebalance investment towards equity and resilience. Our reactive model hasn't worked. We are behind because we identify emergencies and we respond to them. We spend billions in vertical individual disease programs, often driven by a single wealthy donor, with little on ensuring equity across basic health services for the most poor— for the poorest and most vulnerable in our societies. Not surprisingly, such interventions are difficult to deliver and have failed to achieve the SDGs. Therefore, all countries, and I mean all countries, must prioritize primary healthcare and models of sustainable financing. They must look within their own means to see what can be spent in primary healthcare, training community health workers, early detection of disease and prevention, to ensure that we are prepared for the future. Of course, I recognize that the poorest countries would still need development assistance, low and and lower-middle-income countries, but middle-income countries and high-income countries must spend more in the health of their population. Third, we must reimagine global solidarity in a new era. I always see a challenge as an opportunity. The current fragmentation in the face of transnational threats requires that we reinvigorate multilateralism. I would argue that multilateralism is not dead, it does require all of us, each and every one in this room, to redouble our efforts to continue, and we must seek more multilateralism to tackle the major threats that cross boundaries that we face. So, for example, I am convinced that the opportunities remain for us to do differently. Organizations such as the World Health Organization that play a key role in our normative values continue to be important in setting the guidelines that we must all follow. A couple of months ago, in May, I was in Geneva chairing the WHO Clinical Trials Forum, shaping with a combination of actors from civil society to governments to the private sector to academies and universities the guidelines we need to deliver clinical trials for all of humanity, and I therefore say collectively together, with this as an example, we can act and produce the evidence base needed to ensure that we tackle the major problems our societies face. The new future that I see would embrace global partnership, include countries irrespective of income level, public and private sector, academia and civil society, and within this framework, communities must be at the center, especially marginalized communities. They must have a voice in shaping our health systems, not just as recipients, but also as the co-creators. of solutions. In conclusion, transformation for me means that we must rethink how we value health, how we finance health through innovative mechanisms, and it must include the most vulnerable in how we design healthcare. If we do that, and if we sustain our commitment, then we will be able to deliver SDG 3 and a fairer and more resilient world. Thank you.

Thank you very—

thank you very much, Professor Abubakar. And I'll come back to you now, Magda, and briefly, if I may ask you, considering the link between SDG 3 on health and SDG 5 on gender equality, how can we prioritize maternal health and make sure that we don't backtrack on ensuring universal access to sexual and reproductive health services?

Thank you for a very important question as well. Hard-won gains in women's health rights are under threat globally, including reduced access to reproductive health services. I want to emphasize that we cannot achieve SDG 3 without achieving gender equality in health leadership and decision-making. And on service delivery. I also want to make it clear that we need to prioritize women's health holistically before, during, and well beyond the reproductive years in a people-centered approach as the path toward healthier, more equitable world. Ladies and gentlemen, gender inequality remains one of the most significant barriers to creating equitable health systems and achieving universal health coverage because health systems remain gender blind. Too many women and girls continue to die from preventable causes due to lack of access to essential services, especially maternal and reproductive healthcare, particularly in low and middle income countries. Data gaps are pervasive, and without data, there is no accountability. Currently, there is only 42% of the sex disaggregated data needed to monitor both the sex and gender-specific dimensions of the SDGs, making policymaking ineffective and biased. We must understand and address the ways gender affects health concerns, health outcomes, and how it intersects with other dimensions of inequality that restrict access to healthcare and financial protection. Women and girls shoulder on average a higher burden of out-of-pocket health expenses for health services than men. Largely due to a lack of or insufficient coverage for sexual and reproductive health services and maternal healthcare. Many women also lack access to employer-based insurance due to informal or unpaid healthcare work. Meanwhile, effective social protection coverage for mothers with newborns remains low, covering only 45%. of the group worldwide. SDG 3 progress must be gender responsive. This is my recommendation and my call in this room today. Health systems globally continue to rely heavily on women. 67% of the health and care workforce are women, but only 25% hold senior decision-making roles. A severe underrepresentation in health governance and in health leadership. Women, especially those on the front lines, remain underpaid, undervalued, and unprotected. And this is not just a gender issue, it is a system failure. Women continue to shoulder the burden of unpaid care and social service provision. This is a reality that undermines health equity and systems resilience. Universal health coverage has the potential to transform the health and lives of billions of people, but only if it extends its reach to all. Investing in women's health is not just the right thing to do, it's a smart and sustainable strategy for us. Thank you.

Thank you very much indeed. Professor Abubakar, if I could come to you, and reflecting on your own expertise and research areas, what targeted policies do you think can be implemented to build inclusive healthcare systems that don't leave people behind?

Thank you for that important question. So, with a focus on infectious diseases and migration and health, which are my specialist areas, I'd say many of us predicted before the last pandemic that there will be a pandemic, and it's not 100 years ago. And I'd stand before you and say there will be another one, and it's not 100 years from now. It will be likely in our lifetimes, and we must prepare for that. I also say that migration and displacement, whether it's driven by conflict, climate change, or economic factors, are defining factors in terms of our health and in terms of whether we achieve SDGs. And it's these vulnerable migrants, women and kids often, that are excluded from healthcare access. So for us to respond to these specific threats, but in general the efforts to achieve SDGs, I would call on 4 key actions. The first, agreeing with my colleague Magda, is to rethink universal access to healthcare. I believe that health systems must ensure access to essential services regardless of immigration status. It is these basic systems that would allow us to respond to pandemics effectively if and when they arise, for any community without access is that weak link that may mean that we are all not protected. There are excellent examples through the last pandemic demonstrating that early action, universal coverage, equitable access, results in the right outcome for people, and we must look to those countries, whether they are small or big, where the right lessons have been learned, and imitate and copy them when we are faced with the next threat. Second, when we provide preventive or curative interventions, they must be culturally appropriate and acceptable to populations, because if they are not, it's the secret to ensuring that they fail, whether it's in the context of a pandemic and the consequent reaction and rejections of interventions, or indeed in the context of vulnerable migrants, interventions have to take into account the people that you serve, and the providers of healthcare must be drawn from those populations. We ignore that at our own peril. Third, for both migration and infectious diseases, we must ensure integrated health and social care. They are two sides of the same coin, whether it is in terms of how we provide housing, legal aid, education, or employment support, we must marry that with the provision of healthcare. This is true both for physical health or for mental health, acute or chronic conditions. Fourth, I believe that evidence is the key to making progress and to getting the right decisions. The generation of data and the right evidence base is the secret to drive both equity and sustainable impact on health. We need better disaggregated data collection, alongside community-engaged research, to understand the barriers that migrants face and the challenges we face in the next pandemic. Our upcoming report in The Lancet Migration Commission will provide more evidence on this. Therefore, inclusive healthcare is not simply a moral imperative; it is a public health necessity. Infectious diseases will not respect borders, and therefore our health systems, to ensure equity, dignity, and universal access, must also be agile to implement policies across borders. We must build true multilateral systems that leave no one behind.

Thank you.

And if I may, with your indulgence, President, just very briefly in less than one minute, if I could ask each of our contributors, thinking about these broad and significant challenges from climate to conflict, pandemics and food insecurity, we could all be forgiven for feeling a little despair. But I'd like you to give us a reflection on where you would advise us to look to find hope, to find optimism, and to, to find inspiration.

Well, for me, uh, it's in the demographics. It's in our youth. I think the youth are demonstrating that they care, they are in charge, and they can change the very same problems that we are grappling with and we are not finding solutions. I think the youth are the ones that give me hope, and I believe that if we take courageous decisions today, even though we might not solve all the problems, the youth will be there to do it. Thank you.

Thank you.

Professor Abubakar?

Thank you. So I also see the challenge that we face as an opportunity. The one thing our species have done all through our history is respond to a challenge and find solutions through innovation. I therefore remain convinced that we have to look at solutions, and there are green shoots For example, the pandemic agreement was signed this year. People in this room, I'm sure, contributed to that progress. These green shoots we must build on, do more multilateralism, solve the challenges we face collectively. But I completely agree with Magda. What gives me real hope and optimism is our youth, whether it is the youth I interact with in my educational role in London or the individuals I engage in in our health system in Nigeria. that are shaping the future. I think it's the youth that give me hope that the future will be different. Thank you.

Well, thank you very much for that positive note of encouragement, and I'm now going to introduce our lead discussant, Shoaib Shukla, who is the founding managing editor of CNS, the Citizen News Service. She brings decades of experience reporting on global health, gender equity, and human rights and she'll be able to distill what we hear today into clear, actionable insights. Shobha?

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak on behalf of Asia-Pacific Regional Civil Society Engagement Mechanism. Right to health cannot be dislocated from gender equality and human rights. Right to health and gender equality must be recognized as fundamental human rights in all countries. Progress towards SDG 3 continues to be stunted, as we all know, in the Asia-Pacific region, such as on universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights, communicable and non-communicable diseases, universal health coverage, and access for all to safe, effective, quality, and affordable disease prevention tools like vaccines, diagnostics, and medicines. Gender disparities significantly impact health outcomes, and evidence shows that SDG 3 targets cannot be realized without addressing SDG 5 on gender equality. Rise of anti-rights and anti-gender ideologies, including the regressive Geneva Consensus Declaration— Excuse me. The recent trend of defunding development assistance for gender equality and health, the impact of austerity measures in debt-ridden countries, the deprioritization of health spending, and poor domestic resource allocation on health are contributing to reversal in progress towards SDG 3. Essential health services must include sexual and reproductive health services, including safe abortion and post-abortion care, menstrual health hygiene, and mental health services, with particular attention to women, adolescent girls, persons with disability, Indigenous peoples, young people, migrant workers, refugees, people living with HIV, sex workers, people who use drugs, among others. Essential health services must also include all health and social support services for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence. All countries must stop misuse and overuse of medicines in all sectors and prevent antimicrobial resistance using the One Health approach. WHO FCTC Articles 5.3 and 19 empower governments to make tobacco and nicotine industries liable and pay for the harm they are causing to human health. In fact, all forms of corporate capture of public health policy must end, and corporations that are causing harm to human health and our environment must be held liable and penalized. Governments must suspend patents and lift target— and lift trade rules that impede access to medicines and medical technologies. Governments also need to address occupational health and provide meaningful right to know to workers, prioritize prevention, and establish exposure limits protective of the most vulnerable populations. All SDG 3 targets must be fully funded, and DAC countries should fulfill their commitment to ODA for gender equality and health. At the same time, member states must mobilize domestic resources for health. All health responses need to be people-centered gender transformative, and rights-based for all, without any condition or exclusion. We appeal to governments to step up their actions on gender equality and right to health, where no one is left behind. Thank you for your attention.

And with those comments, I hand back to Thank you, Chair.

Thank you, Moderator. I thank you for conducting this panel. We will now proceed to the interactive discussions. Delegations wishing to intervene are invited to request the floor by pressing the microphone button. I also take this opportunity to remind participants that the time limit for intervention from the floor is 3 minutes. Please bear in mind that the time limit may need to be adjusted downwards depending on the number of requests for the floor. A countdown clock is visible on the screens to alert speakers when it is time to conclude their statement. To ensure proper interpretations, Delegations are asked to speak at a normal pace and to provide a written copy of their statements by email to e-statements@un.org. In case speakers exceed their time limit, the microphone will be automatically deactivated. I apologize in advance if speakers are cut off. This measure is being taken to ensure that all speakers can deliver their statements in the limited time available for the discussion. With this, now I give the floor to, to Her Excellency Sani Grahn, Lausunen Minister of Social Security of Finland, to be followed by Japan.

Honorable Chair, Your Excellencies, distinguished delegates. Global health and development face major challenges with significant funding cuts to global health agencies and programs on the ground. Evidence-based decision-making is being challenged, and disinformation is spread widely. This further threatens the achievements of the SDGs. And severely impacts the health of people and communities, particularly persons in vulnerable situations. The Lusaka Agenda is critically important for the more sustainable future. Similarly, we expect the UNHCR reform to ensure that the UN is well equipped to serve those most in need. Finland remains firmly committed to advancing gender equality and particularly sexual and reproductive health and rights. Access to universal healthcare without discrimination is a human right. Investing in primary healthcare services, including comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services, improve overall health outcomes and reduce maternal and infant mortality rates. Additionally, gender-responsive health systems are key for reaching the most vulnerable. From global to local, strengthening health security at all levels leads to stronger and more resilient societies. This requires multi-stakeholder collaboration across borders, information sharing, and capacity building. The approval of the Pandemic Agreement and the collaboration on increasing local vaccine production are important steps towards preparedness. Non-communicable diseases, including mental health issues, remain the leading cause of mortality and morbidity globally. We must effectively implement policies for better, better health. Evidence-based interventions and specific actions to reduce health inequalities are important. These include the use of gender-specific determinants and inclusive participation in policymaking. Finland encourages continuing the work on economics of health for all, which underlines the mutually reinforcing nature of well-being, gender equality, and economic growth for better, healthier societies. Thank you very much.

I thank Her Excellency, the Minister of Social Security of Finland. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Japan, to be followed by Cuba. Japan, you have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. In Japan's 3rd VNR presented this year, we outlined Japan's efforts to achieve SDG 3. To share its experience of Japan in promoting universal health coverage, And in tackling an aging society with developing countries, Japan is working to establish the UHC Knowledge Hub in Japan, a global center to support the development of human resource finance and health authorities for achieving UHC worldwide. Japan considers reducing the long-term care risks for the elderly to be particularly important. Japan's VNR showcases Toyota City in Aichi Prefecture As a prime example of this initiative, today the mayor of Toyota City will provide further details on these efforts.

I would like to briefly introduce a project for long-term care prevention utilizing the social impact bond scheme that we launched in 2021 with the aim of realizing that city where people can live out their lifespans happily. At the time, we faced a steep increase in long-term care risks due to the confluence of a rapidly aging population and the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, which was expected to increase the burden related to the care of the elderly. In response, Toyota City launched a project funded by the expected return on investment in future social costs that reduces the risks associated with long-term care while maintaining the health and lifestyle of the elderly. Through our second BRR, which we are now preparing, and the International Mayors Forum, which we will host this October, we will continue to contribute to the achievement of SDG 3, of the 2030 Agenda. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Japan. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Cuba, to be followed by LGBTI stakeholder group.

Mr. President, Excellencies, distinguished delegates. Cuba reiterates its firm commitment to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, in particular Goal 3 on ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages. Despite the blockade imposed by the government of the United States, which constitutes the primary obstacle to our development, Cuba demonstrates various outstanding health indicators. For example, we have kept at-birth life expectancy at around 78, infant mortality around 7 per 1,000 live births, and vaccination coverage of more than 98%. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, Cuba developed 3 of its own vaccines. And managed to vaccinate more than 90% of its population, including those of pediatric age. These results are the fruit of a universal, free, preventive, and accessible health system, one that has been supported with political will, scientific planning, and social justice. Mr. President, Cuba has made international medical solidarity a pillar of its foreign policy. Since 1963, more than 605,000 Cuban health professionals have provided services in 165 countries, saving lives and contributing to the health systems of sister nations. In light of these efforts, we denounce the systematic smear campaign orchestrated by the government of the United States against our medical cooperation. This is done on the basis of falsehoods and coercion. This immoral and politicized campaign aims to discredit profoundly human work that has been recognized by the World Health Organization and by multiple governments around the world. Cuba reaffirms that health cannot be a commodity, nor can it be a tool for political blackmail. We reiterate our readiness to continue contributing in conditions of respect and cooperation to the implementation of SDG 3 and to moving towards a world in which the right to health is a reality for all rather than a privilege for a few. Thank you very much.

I thank the distinguished representative of Cuba. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of LGBTI Stakeholder Group, to be followed by Norway.

Dear Chair, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, my name is Marcel Ganev, a queer activist from Kazakhstan, a member of LGBTI Stakeholder Group, which is a part of the Major Groups and Stakeholder Coordination Mechanism. I'm here to reaffirm SDG 3's call for equitable health and well-being for LGBTI people. Discrimination in healthcare remains widespread, leading many LGBTI+ people, especially trans, intersex, and non-binary individuals, to avoid care. Mental distress among trans adults is nearly double that of cisgender peers. Among other regions, in Central Asia, conversion practices are still tolerated and unpunished, while countries like Turkmenistan deny the reality of HIV, reporting only 2 cases since 1989, despite civil society efforts. Politicians continue to weaponize LGBTI phobia, further restricting access to care and harming mental health. Meanwhile, shrinking civil space and funding barriers prevent community organizations from delivering life-saving services. Even where progress exists, such as in Thailand, rural trans and non-binary youth remain excluded without legal gender recognition. To advance SDG 3, we urge member states to urgently adopt inclusive, evidence-based health policies that implement the AAAQ framework— availability, accessibility, acceptability, and quality— to build health systems that serve LGBTI+ needs. Enact and enforce anti-discrimination laws that protect people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, gender expressions, and sex characteristics in healthcare. Ensure universal access to gender-affirming mental and reproductive care, especially for trans and non-binary youth. Mandate evidence-based LGBTI+ training for healthcare providers. Collect and report disaggregated health data to guide inclusive policies. Fund LGBTI+ organizations to lead community-informed services, and non-consensual medical procedures on intersex people, upholding bodily autonomy and human rights. We urge all member states to embed these inclusive measures into national health strategies and meaningfully involve LGBTI+ civil society in health policy design and implementation. Political leaders must reject hate speech and fuels that fuels violence towards us and denies access to care. To achieve SDG 3, we must pass inclusive laws, fund tailored services, improve data, and center LGBTI+ voices, ensuring health for all, leaving no one behind. Thank you.

Thank you.

I thank, I thank the distinguished representative of LGBTI stakeholder group. Now I give the floor to distinguished representative of Norway, to be followed by Azerbaijan. Norway, you have the floor.

Dear Chair, SDG 3 on health and well-being relates to most of the other SDGs. Many of the root causes of poor health lie outside the health system, such as poverty, hunger, lack of education, lack of access to clean water, unsafe working environments, pollution, and armed conflict. The causes of diseases must to a large extent be dealt with outside the health sector, through building healthy cities, good living environments, and a welfare state that can support the individual when in need of health services. Services. The COVID-19 pandemic was syndemic, where those most seriously affected were those with other risk factors from chronic diseases and poor living conditions. The Lusaka Agreement, as mentioned by the Finns, is a platform for progress related to SDG 3. In a situation with deep concerns of decreased funding for health programs and the WHO, There is an urgent need to bolster domestic resource mobilization and foster innovative financing solutions within our nations. The proposed strategic shifts that prioritize primary care, strengthen resilient health systems, champion sustainable domestic financing, local production, equity in health, and coherence between the global health initiatives shows the way forward. It is a call for self-reliance and a blueprint for nationally owned health systems in Africa and worldwide. Norway will contribute actively together with partners in the Global South and in the Global North to move this agenda forward. Together with South Africa, we will work together to get the Lusaka Agenda shift into the G20 Ministerial Declaration. Thank you very much.

I thank the distinguished representative of Norway. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Azerbaijan, to be followed by Finland. Azerbaijan, you have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. President, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen. Almost in all speeches, it's mentioned about health is more than absence of illness. This is fundamental human right and cornerstone for achieving SDGs. In the Republic of Azerbaijan, our commitment to SDG 3, it's good health and well-being, is both strategic and strict. Through the aligned national priorities, notably Azerbaijan 2030 and Social Economic Development Strategy, we've placed health at the heart of Sustainable Development. As mentioned by Madame Rubal about the importance of universal health coverage, a major breakthrough has been our implementation of universal health coverage via mandatory health insurance. Since 2021, this initiative has significantly expanded access to over 3,500 medical services, reduced out-of-pocket spending, and elevated public confidence in health system. We take pride in 2023 certification of Azerbaijan as malaria-free by World Health Organization, an achievement resulting from decades of prevention and cross-sectoral coordination. Our national immunization program now covers 11 vaccine-preventable diseases, and the recent adoption of hexavalent vaccine has improved cost-effectiveness and delivery efficiency. To guarantee safe and affordable medicine, pharmaceutical reforms adopted in 2024 have simplified registration processes while enhancing quality controls, supporting both domestic production and access to vulnerable populations. In the sphere of maternal-child health, we introduced a home visiting model for newborns and young mothers. We have submitted new legislation on reproductive health, to the parliament. This step reflects our belief that a healthy start in life is critical to the future of our society. Azerbaijan is also embracing a digital transformation of healthcare. From e-prescription to digital sick leave forms, our unified healthcare information system is increasing transparency, speed, and citizen engagement. We are innovating not just systems but public awareness, In 2024, we launched Health Radio, a public health media platform promoting evidence-based advice. Its popularity among young demonstrates the importance of culturally relevant, accessible health and education. Ladies and gentlemen, Azerbaijan is ready to share its experience, build partnerships, and strengthen multilateral action. Achieving SDG 3 means more than isolated victories. It requires a whole-society collaboration, integration of health across all development policies. Let us unite around this shared objective: a world where no one is left behind, and where health is not a privilege, but a guarantee for all. I thank you.

Thank you. I thank the distinguished representative of Azerbaijan. Now I give the floor floor to Her Excellency Song Li, Secretary-General of the Secretariat of the All-China Women's Federations. Her Excellency, you have the floor.

Mr. President, colleagues, good health is a timeless pursuit of mankind. However, around the world, multiple challenges still hinder the full realization of SDG 3. In the least developed countries and regions, people still lack basic medical security and the technology for the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases remains inadequate. HIV/AIDS and tuberculous losses still plague certain regions while public health crises cross borders. Armed conflicts not only destroy infrastructure but also tear apart the very foundation of human health. Addressing these challenges still—

Thank you.

And achieving 2030 Agenda still requires tremendous efforts from all countries in unity. China, with a population of 1.4 billion, has always placed people's safety and health at its top priority. We have issued and implemented the Healthy China 2030 Blueprint, increased fiscal investment in the health sector, built the world's largest healthcare system, and improved the universality, accessibility, and affordability of health services. China firmly upholds women's reproductive autonomy and health rights by continuously implementing protective measures for maternal and child safety. Currently, China's maternal mortality rate stands at 14.3 per 100,000, while its infant mortality rate and under-5 mortality rate have dropped to 4 per 1,000 and 5.6 per 1,000 respectively, meeting the relevant SDG ahead of schedule. Mr. President, colleagues, health is not only about the equality—

the quality of life for individuals, but also the overall social stability and prosperity.

In the past decade and beyond, improvements in healthcare have contributed to a 24% income increase in some of the poorest countries. These achievements are the result of robust China is a staunch supporter and active participant in international health cooperation. In the 60 years since initiating its foreign medical assistance, China has dispatched medical teams to 76 countries and regions, treating 290 million patients. Going forward, we'll continue to work with other countries to expand digital health technologies and narrow the digital divide in healthcare through telemedicine, AI-powered diagnostics, and localized talent development so that health outcomes can benefit every country and everyone. I believe that with joint efforts from all parties, the global health sector will move steadily toward a more resilient, equitable, and just future.

Thank you.

I thank Her Excellency, Secretary-General of the Secretariat of the All-China Women's Federation. Now I give the floor to distinguished representative of South Africa, to be followed by France. South Africa, you have the floor.

Chairperson, thank you, and distinguished delegates, panelists. As we've heard, health is a fundamental human right, and its outcomes are influenced by the conditions in which people are born, grown, they live, work, and age.

Health is a foundation for sustainable development that contributes to human capital, healthy populations, and is a driver of economic growth. Many people, especially those in poor and rural and informal settings, are unable to access health and other essential health services due to affordability, high prices, and out-of-pocket payments. These challenges derail development efforts of populations.

Chairperson, we need to remind ourselves that health—

and it's been mentioned by the panelists— that health requires an integrated multisectoral approach. Last week, we had an opportunity to have the General Assembly Interactive Dialogue on Social, Economic, and Environmental Determinants of Health. From these discussions, it was very clear that the implementation of all SDGs would have positive effects on health, since all goals are interlinked. We need to eliminate poverty by ensuring zero hunger, and therefore nutritious food is necessary, which requires food security. Poverty can be addressed by ensuring good quality education, including health literacy, and we need, as we've heard, to ensure that women's health is prioritized, including sexual and reproductive health and rights. We need to address effects of climate change that lead to air pollution, unsafe water and sanitation, poor housing conditions, and other environmental factors. These all impact the health systems and health, and this requires renewed commitment to multilateralism, a strong emphasis on global solidarity, and international cooperation. Chairperson, South Africa has made substantial strides in advancing universal health coverage. Our national health insurance is currently being rolled out, and this represents a bold step towards providing comprehensive and affordable healthcare to all South Africans. As the current president of the G20, South Africa has also chosen the theme Accelerating Health Equity, Solidarity, and Universal Coverage, which is aimed at contributing to a fairer and more equitable global health system. We recognize in this regard that primary healthcare approach is the fundamental basis for ensuring health equity. In closing, Mr. Chairperson, we'd like to ask the panelists a question that relates to the fact that many countries are highly indebted. In view of the persistent inequalities and the current financial strains, how, in their view, will countries be able to mobilize resources to advance their universal universal health coverage, and will there be, in their view, an appetite to address health funding gaps and replenishing health funds in addressing global health challenges?

I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of South Africa, and now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of France. To be followed by NGO Major Group. France, you have the floor.

Monsieur le Président.

Mr. President, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, it's an honor for me to take the floor from the French seat to share our commitment to SDG 3, which is a fundamental objective to the the crossroads of the great challenges for sustainable development. Territorial local authorities have a key role to play in the implementation of this goal, in particular through decentralised cooperation. As local actors, they have direct contact with the local populations and intervene in the areas of numerous health determinants: access to water, sanitation, urbanism, education, food, and fighting poverty. Cités Unies France, who is such a national network, works internationally and works to actively support local authorities in their work with particular attention given to work on health in fragile and crisis-affected countries. These partnerships allow for us to develop projects within local health systems, to train professionals, exchange expertise, and raise awareness as to the main issues and challenges in public health. We note that these actions are part of an approach which is fully cross-cutting and linked to other SDGs, particularly SDG 5 on gender equality, SDG 6 on water and sanitation, as well as SDG 11 on sustainable cities. And it is through these interlinkages that we find the strength in our integrated local policies. Nonetheless, we see persistent obstacles. We have fragmented financing, a lack of coordination between levels of governance, not to mention difficulties in accessing reliable data to guide the public and public policies. In order to address these obstacles, we think it's essential to strengthen our means of implementation at a local level. To showcase partnerships between local authorities and to promote multi-level, more fluent cooperation between the state, local authorities, civil society, and international partners. Taking the floor now from the French seat bears out the strong partnership between local authorities and the central state in France, and I welcome The mic, it's cut off, I think. Yeah.

I thank the distinguished representative of France. Now I give the floor to distinguished representative of NGO Major Group, to be followed by United Republic of Tanzania.

Thank you, Chair.

Excellencies, I'm Lucía Pérez Gómez, a recently graduated medical doctor from Spain, Vice President of the International Federation of Medical Students' Associations, and speaking on behalf of the NGO Major Group. We cannot build resilient societies if we neglect the foundational right to health. Today, 3 billion people are under the age of 25, and we are witnessing firsthand the inequalities in accessing the most basic health services. Despite advances in science and technology, not a single SDG 3 target is on track, and the progress towards universal health coverage has been minimal. 2.1 billion children and adolescents are affected by noncommunicable diseases, and 1 in 7 adolescents lives with a mental health condition. Health is not created in hospitals alone. It is shaped by how we live, work, learn, and grow. We need multisectoral approaches, and youth must be meaningfully engaged in shaping these policies. We call for increased investments in primary healthcare and prevention, especially in fragile and conflict-affected areas; concrete action to protect the healthcare workforce; prioritization of maternal health and SRHR within universal health coverage using gender-transformative frameworks; Equitable access to essential medicines and digital tools. Adoption of One Health and planetary health approaches, as there is no health without planetary health. How can we speak of sustainable development when half of the population worldwide lacks access to healthcare services? We cannot achieve health equity without addressing the social, economic, and environmental determinants of health. If health remains a privilege, not a right, we are not just failing goals, we are failing people. Invest in health. Let us challenge the system. We, the youth, are not afraid to do so. Let's stand together to ensure healthy lives for all.

Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of NGO major group. Now, I give the floor to the distinguished representative of United Republic of Tanzania, to be followed by Czechia.

Excellencies, health is a fundamental human right and the bedrock of resilience and inclusive development. For the United Republic of Tanzania, investing in health is not only a moral imperative but also a strategic pathway to realizing the 2030 Agenda. We are proud to report notable progress. Maternal mortality rate has declined significantly from 556% to 104% in 2022. Skilled birth attendance has increased from 64% in 2015 to 94% in 2022. We also have expanded access to digital health platform and community-based health insurance to improve equality in service delivery. In response, Tanzania is implementing a national universal health insurance law to guarantee health coverage for all, with special attention to poor and vulnerable. We are leveraging digital solutions to plan, monitor, and enhance accountability in health service provision. Importantly, we are promoting multi-sectoral coordination across education, agriculture, water, and sanitation to holistically address health determinants. Excellencies, my delegation reaffirmed the centrality of international cooperation in advancing SDG 3. In regard, we underscore the following priorities. First, increased concessional financing and equitable access to essential medicine and vaccines. Second, strengthening South-African Triangle cooperation, including technology and knowledge sharing. And third, scalable public and private partnership to extend service coverage to underserved communities, including in fragile and rural settings. In conclusion, Excellencies, let us recall health is more than a standalone goal. It is the foundation of human dignity, economic productivity, and climate resilience. As we mark 10 years since the adoption of 2030 Agenda, Tanzania remains committed to work with partners to turn ambition into action and ensure well-being for all.

Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Tanzania. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Czechia, to be followed by Colombia. Czechia, you have the floor.

Thank you. Excellencies, dear participants, ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages is an important priority for Czechia. The world is still far away from achieving universal health coverage as well as most of the SDG 3 targets. At the same time, the globalized world continues to be more and more interlinked. For that reason, all sectors need to cooperate. Acting alone cannot bring the desired game changer, which is evident in the strong interlinkages between SDG 3 and the other SDGs. Health and environment, including climate change and biodiversity loss, are especially interconnected, as the One Health approach points out. Sexual and reproductive health and rights serve as yet another example of strong connections between SDG 3 and particularly SDG 5. Access to sexual and reproductive health and rights is critical to improving maternal, newborn, and child health. There are many other examples of SDG 3 interlinkages. We need to focus on the common solutions. Extensive cooperation across sectors and at the international level is essential to build a more resilient health network with the emphasis on countries in urgent need of strengthening their health system. We support the essential role of the World Health Organization at the center of these efforts. Everyone can do their part. One example is Czechia's Medevac program. Since 1993, this Czech humanitarian program has been providing medical care free of charge to populations in vulnerable situations such as conflict, and disaster. The program has been active, for instance, in Afghanistan, Cambodia, Iraq, Libya, Myanmar, Pakistan, or Syria. To conclude, given the current state of SDG 3, we must do everything we can for health to ensure a better future for generations to come, and Czechia remains committed to this endeavor. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Czechia. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Colombia, to be followed by Algeria. Colombia, you have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. President. The government of Colombia is convinced that guaranteeing a healthy life and well-being for all is fundamental to achieving the 2030 Agenda as a whole. Colombia, through our national development plan, has prioritized a preventive approach and primary care as an effective way to ensuring the right to health with a participatory, intercultural, and community-based approach, recognizing the interlinkages between the different SDGs. This approach is needed to overcome challenges as we seek to achieve SDG 3, such as persistent profound inequalities in accessing quality healthcare, as well as the increasing threat of resistance to antimicrobials, the issues in addressing health emergencies, among others. These challenges called for integrated approaches that are tailored to national realities. That's why Colombia has adopted an intersectoral approach based on the principle of one single health. Which recognizes the interlinkage between human, animal health, and ecosystems. This approach has allowed us to develop strategy— coordinated strategies to prevent diseases, and it was key in the adoption of the Global Health Plan at the COP16 on biodiversity that was held in Cali, Colombia last year. This is— this directly links to other SDGs such as 13 and 15 through the conservation and restoration of ecosystems. Turning to comprehensive integrated policies, we have the recent pandemic agreement and we have promoted this through our One Single Health policy. These experiences show how the linkages between all of the SDGs SDGs can help us build more effective policies. Promoting well-being also means that we need to protect the environment, ensure social justice, and strengthen health systems from the local level. In light of the increasing threats to multilateralism, Mr. President, we reaffirm the need for robust international coordination and Resilience to future challenges. Ensuring future quality healthcare means that we need to work on the social fabric and guarantee rights. That's why we appeal to the international community to strengthen cooperation in funding resilient health systems, environmental monitoring, technological innovation, the exchange of experiences between countries in the Global South. Thank you very much, President.

I thank the distinguished representative of Colombia. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Algeria, to be followed by WHO.

Thank you, Mr. President. Algeria has prioritized health through its national policy, and the Constitution guarantees healthcare for citizens. To guarantee the enjoyment of health services by all without discrimination. And we are promoting solidarity within the country, and we are aligning our efforts with the SDGs and in accordance with the needs of our society, especially as health risks increase. Algeria has carried out the following. First, we have developed programs of action and strategies based on modernizing our health sector and providing modern medical technology and digital technology as well. Second, we have improved our coverage and have afforded extra attention to maternal and child health through coordination with the private sector to facilitate solidarity at hospitals. In this context, we have intensified our efforts in the area of prevention and combating communicable as well as non-communicable diseases, and these efforts included free care for persons living with HIV as well as a Multisector national strategy to combat noncommunicable diseases for the period 2022 to 2030. Third, we have developed new hospitals with high standards to treat difficult cases and to provide multiple surgeries. In addition, multiple health facilities have been inaugurated and the relevant laws have been amended. To provide additional benefits to health professionals. Fourth, we are encouraging a conducive environment for the pharmaceutical industry, and Algeria is in fact a leader in Africa in the pharmaceutical industry. Fifth, we have established an agency for the digitalization of the health sector including through improved data collection and analysis to address the needs of the population. In conclusion, Algeria reiterates the need for human solidarity through partnerships and expertise transfer and cooperation without any difficult conditions. And thank you for your attention.

Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Algeria. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of WHO, to be followed by Guatemala.

Thank you very much, President. My appreciation to Magda and Ibrahim for their excellent presentations, for the positive remarks to WHO, and also from all the delegations that have said the Thank you, Mr. President. Health is indeed a human right and a core aspiration of every human being. It is recognized as a precondition, outcome, and indicator of sustainable development. COVID-19 ravaged global health, undoing nearly 10 years of progress in life expectancy. It also caused major setbacks in vaccination rates, especially among children. But progress is being made, with global under-5 deaths reaching a historic low in 2023, down from 10 million in 2000. Declining maternal mortality has also been a success story, and especially in terms of pregnancy and childbirth becoming safer. and sexual reproductive health into UHC, as we have heard, and primary healthcare is crucial, alongside investments in high-impact practices such as investing in midwifery models of care, ensuring quality and coverage of reproductive health services. Efforts to combat communicable diseases have prevented millions of deaths, but as we have heard, non-communicable diseases including cardiovascular, cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory diseases, remain the world's leading cause of mortality, causing 75% of all deaths. Mental health conditions remain highly prevalent and often untreated, affecting 1 billion people worldwide, and depression and anxiety increasing 25% during the pandemic. 75% of mental health conditions in low- and middle-income countries go undetected. Universal health coverage, despite progress, has hit a roadblock. 4.5 million people are still without access to essential services, and 2 billion face financial hardship. I am not going to go into the financing But it's obviously crucial that ODA is falling and domestic revenue is declining. There is therefore a need to invest strategically in high-impact interventions, aligning investments with long-term goals, and investing in UHC through a focus on primary healthcare. That is the only way to meet health for all, every day, everywhere. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of WHO. Now I give the floor to His Excellency Hugo Allan Garcia, Undersecretary for Strategic Analysis for Development of Guatemala, to be followed by Ireland. Your Excellency, you have the floor.

Excellencies.

Excellencies, distinguished colleagues, I convey to you the warm greetings of Guatemala, the height of the Mayan world. I'd like to thank the panel for guiding us in this dialogue. In Guatemala, we see health not as an isolated goal, but actually as the thread that weaves the fabric of our development. Every life that we save, every child that we vaccinate, is a strand of hope for our future. We have made significant progress as the outcome of conscious public policies. Maternal and neonatal mortality is steadily falling. Similarly, the national adolescent fertility rate shows a welcome downward trend. However, an honest analysis means that we need to look beyond averages. We have inherited structural gaps that persist and challenge us every day. We know that the decline in adolescent— in teenage pregnancy is not uniform. It's significantly lower in areas with indigenous populations or limited access to education. Access to healthcare in practice is still not universal. And it is precisely through recognizing this gap between the average and the reality of every community that we forge our strongest commitment to leave no one behind. The COVID-19 pandemic was a mirror that constantly revealed our vulnerabilities, but as often happens in our land of volcanoes, strength emerged out of crisis. Adversity pushed us to seek better ways to serve our people, leading us to sign an agreement for the mass purchase of medicines, surgical supplies, and equipment for our hospitals. Looking ahead, our roadmap rests on 3 pillars that are inspired by our own identity. Getting back to our roots, firstly, strengthening primary care by bringing doctors and preventive healthcare services to every community, not as a service but rather as a right. Secondly, innovating with purpose, embracing technology as an art of— as art such as artificial intelligence, not as an end in itself but as a tool for the state to better serve its people. 3, integrating knowledge, addressing health and food security as a single thing, because through the worldview of our indigenous peoples, we know that the health of the land is the health of its people. Indeed, our intersectoral initiative Hand in Hand is living proof that this approach works. Excellencies, we haven't come here to ask for anything. We're here to propose for an alliance for action. We issue an urgent appeal to the international community to build a resilient— to build resilient health systems together. We are convinced that by working together, the harvest of sowing health, resilience, and inclusion will be a future of well-being and dignity for all. Thank you very much.

I thank His Excellency, the Under-Secretary for Strategic Analysis for Development of Guatemala. And now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Ireland, to be followed by State of Palestine. Ireland, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. Ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all and at all ages must be a priority.

As the Secretary-General's report for 2025 notes, the latest data shows mixed results across health indicators. Through Ireland's domestic and international efforts to achieve SDG 3, we are prioritizing whole-of-government preventative and primary care approaches supported by data-driven decision-making, more resilient health systems, and better emergency preparedness. Working to meet the SDG targets by 2030 is, is a priority for Ireland's international development policy, A Better World, which commits to strengthening interventions for health for the furthest behind. Ireland's approach is framed by a clear focus on improving access to safe, affordable, and quality healthcare, including in humanitarian contexts. Ireland recognises the need for increased and sustained investments into health systems strengthening and primary healthcare approaches to address the social and economic determinants of health. We are fully committed to strengthening our national capacities, including, including through the application of the One Health approach for the prevention, preparedness, and response to health emergencies. We are also committed to the achievement of universal healthcare by 2030, including through sustained supports for health systems strengthening through multiple partnerships. Underpinning much of our national progress on SDG 3 has been the development and implementation of Sláinte Care, a national reform programme which is transforming how we deliver healthcare, building towards equal access to services for every citizen based on patient need and not their ability to pay. The Sláinte Care vision is one of universal health services for all, providing the right care in the right place at the right time. Ireland can also point to the achievements of Healthy Ireland, a government initiative which aims to create a society where everyone can enjoy physical and mental health and where wellbeing is valued and supported at every level of Irish society. Under the Healthy Ireland framework, we have developed dedicated supports in relation to obesity, physical health, alcohol, tobacco, mental health promotion, and a range of healthy setting policies. This framework is currently under review, which will enable us to further develop and expand the range of population health approaches and maximize synergies. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Ireland. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of the State of Palestine, to be followed by Italy. Palestine, you have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. President. The State of Palestine welcomes the opportunity to review SDG 3 at this pivotal time and thanks the panelists for their insights. Ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being is not just a development goal, it's a universal human right enshrined in international law and central to the 2030 Agenda. Without healthcare and well-being, no country can prosper or progress. Yet globally, health inequalities are widening, driven by conflict, displacement, food insecurity, and the denial of basic rights. This is the reality in Palestine, where the Israeli colonial occupation systematically destroys the conditions for health and life itself. Nowhere is this more evident than in Gaza. SDG 3 calls for reducing maternal mortality, Yet mothers in Gaza are giving birth in makeshift tents and rubble, in what UNICEF describes as children being born into hell. SDG 3 calls for ending preventable deaths of newborns and children, yet the Israeli occupation has killed 20,000 Palestinian children in 20 months. That is 1,000 children killed every month since the start of the genocide. SDG 3 calls for access to healthcare and medicines, yet the World Health Organization and OCHA have documented deliberate Israeli bombing of hospitals, maternity wards, ambulances, and the killing of medical personnel. Not only did these heinous crimes violate international law and every principle of sustainable development, but they obstruct the realization of SDG 3 in Palestine by design. If SDG 3 is to be realized for all, the international community must ensure accountability for these crimes and take concrete action to end Israeli occupation blockade, and genocide. To conclude, the Palestinian people's resilience reflects the essence of SDG 3 in the unwavering pursuit of health and dignity amidst relentless attacks and destruction. Our people's resilience is a daily affirmation of the right to life and the unyielding determination to thrive against all odds. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of State of Palestine. Now I give the floor to distinguished representative of Italy, to be followed by Kyrgyzstan. Italy, you have the floor.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Italy is pleased to join today's discussion on SDG 3 and its link with other goals. We thank you for this timely and important exchange. As highlighted during the, during the panel, while we have made many progress on SDG 3, major challenges remain. Non-communicable diseases, mental health issues, inequalities, and climate-related health risks continue to impact our society. To move forward, we need integrated and multi-sectoral solutions. First, prevention must be a top priority. Health depends not only on services, but also on our daily habits— how we live, eat, move, and learn. Italy promotes healthy lifestyles based on education, balanced and sustainable diets, and physical activity. A good example is the Mediterranean diet, recognized by UNESCO and supported by scientific evidence as a way to improve both health and environmental sustainability. This connection between food, health, and sustainability will also guide our contribution to the upcoming UN Food system stocktaking moment, which Italy will co-host with Ethiopia in Addis Abeba later this month. Second, we believe innovation can make a difference. During our G7 presidency last year, we launched a common vision for the use of artificial intelligence in healthcare, focusing on equity, transparency, and human oversight. When used responsibly, AI can help with early diagnosis, better care, and smarter use of resources. Third, strong partnership and national ownership are essential. Italy supports inclusive approaches that involve all sectors of government and society. In the ongoing NCDs negotiations, for instance, we are calling for solutions that are science-based, culturally respectful, and that fully recognize the right of each country to define its own public health strategies. Let us work together to put health at the center of sustainable development.

I thank you.

Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Italy. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Kyrgyzstan, to be followed by people of African descent stakeholder group.

Honorable participants, the Kyrgyz Republic reaffirms its strong commitment to accomplish SDG 3, recognizing its central role in fostering inclusive and sustainable development. The health and well-being of our population underpin national human capital, economic growth, and social cohesion. As such, the implementation of SDG 3 is a national priority and is deeply interlinked with other goals in including the eradication of poverty, promotion of gender equality, development of sustainable cities, climate action, and effective, accountable institutions. The country has made significant strides in health sector reform. 2 landmark laws on the protection of citizens' health and on public health have been adopted, alongside the implementation of a long-term program, Healthy Person, Prosperous Country. This initiative emphasizes result-oriented primary healthcare aligned with efforts to reduce inequality and strengthen social protection system. Notable progress includes reduction in neonatal and child mortality, improved access to antenatal and postnatal care, and enhanced response to tuberculosis and hepatitis. However, persistent challenges remain: declining immunization coverage, a rising incidence of HIV among women, elevated maternal mortality, and a growing burden of noncommunicable diseases. Air pollution, particularly in the capital city, possesses serious public health concerns, especially for children and pregnant women, and it is closely tied to SDG 11 and 13. Kyrgyzstan is also prioritizing the integration of digital technologies in health, including the rollout of unified platform for health risk monitoring, modernized epidemiological surveillance, and upgraded medical infrastructure. At the same time, we are reinforcing intersectoral collaboration to address broader determinants of health, particularly in areas of reproductive health, substance use prevention, and mental health, the ones closely related to SDG 5, 4, and 16. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Kyrgyzstan. Now I give the floor to distinguished representative of people of African descent stakeholder group, to be followed by Uganda.

Thank you, Chair.

I am from Geladez Black Women Institute and speak on behalf of the newly established stakeholder group of people of African descent, an important step toward breaking the invisible— invisibility of the African descent community within the multilateral system. So ensuring health, lives, and well-being for all requires confronting the structural inequalities that have long shaped access to healthcare. Crises like the pandemic, armed conflicts, and the climate emergency have deepened existing vulnerabilities, especially for African descent, women, children and youth, indigenous, people with disability, and other marginalized communities. Racial and gender inequalities remain evident in maternal mortality, chronic disease, limited access to preventive care, preventive care, and the extensive experience of obstetric violence. Sexual and reproductive rights must be fully respected. Health justice will not be possible without racial and gender justice at its core. We call for a rights-based and cross-sectoral approach that recognizes health as a result of social, environmental, and economic determinants. This includes disaggregated data by race, gender, age, disability, ethnicity, and territory. The strengthening of community-based health systems and great investment in the health workforce, especially in sectors historically led by women and racialized community, who remain undervalued and underpaid. Mental health must also be fully integrated into public policies with a holistic and preventive lens, and a One Health approach must connect social environment, social environment and health justice, especially in the face of climate disruption. I close by inviting the panelists for a reflection. Can we truly achieve SDG 3 without the active engagement of civil society and those historically excluded from global decision-making? Moving forward means addressing not only the symptoms, but the root causes of inequality. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of people of African descent stakeholder group. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Uganda, to be followed by Nepal. Uganda, you have the floor.

Excellencies, we meet at a time of multiple overlapping global crisis, pandemics, conflicts, economic shocks, and the erosion of multilateralism. These turbulent times demand renewed global solidarity, equitable resource sharing, and a firm commitment to peace if humanity is to stay on course towards the 2030 Agenda. We have all known that 17% of SDG targets are on track. Uganda acknowledges this sobering reality but remains committed to accelerating action. On SDG 3, good health and well-being, Uganda has made notable progress. We have improved life expectancy up to 68 years, prompting the government to scale up services in geriatrics and non-communicable diseases among the other priorities. We have also rolled out digital health tools to help us to improve the surveillance and also real-time actual data for planning and budgeting. This is also assisted by the AI in diagnostics and telemedicine. Government prioritizes community health extension workers as the only way to access care at the lower levels, and we believe this is a high-impact intervention that will bring the disease burden down. To achieve universal health coverage, we are strengthening primary healthcare, and I must report that 91% of the population can access health services within 5 kilometers, and these are government facilities. Government is also incentivizing private sector to enhance local manufacturing because this was a sobering reality at the time of COVID when we could not access the vaccines. We believe that the future of Africa, the future of our developing countries, lies in economic development through local manufacturing. The proportion we have made— we have made progress in also reducing maternal mortality, and also infant mortality, as we'll share the statement because of time. Uganda has also emerged as a global leader in outbreak management. We were able, and I believe—

Thank you. I thank the— I thank the distinguished representative of Uganda. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Nepal, to be followed by Switzerland.

Thank you for convening this important meeting on SDG 3 and its interlinkage with other goals. Nepal's health system is formed on foundation of comprehensive and inclusive approach that ensures accessibility, quality assurance, and responsiveness of the growing health outcomes.

The country is committed to UHC and aligned with global development goals, places the healthcare system on a path of continuous improvement and resilience.

Over the years, we have seen real progress in health of the peoples, but at the same time, people are paying more than 55% of total healthcare cost from the out-of-pocket payment. The impact of out-of-pocket payment is huge.

Over 12% of people are facing catastrophic healthcare expenditure.

We look at the 10% threshold. Similarly, more than 3% of non-poor people are pushing below the poverty poverty line due to out-of-pocket payment. This makes it even harder to fight poverty. So the big question for us is how to improve the people's health while also protecting from the financial risks. Balancing the trade-off is really important. To build resilience and accelerate progress towards the SDG, 3, requires a holistic and inclusive approach. With this point, we need to spend public money wisely and make sure resources reach those who need them most and improve both equity and efficiency. Investing in health is investing in our shared goal— shared future. In conclusion, We call for increasing international cooperation and mobilizing global financing for health system resilience, including financial transportation. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Nepal, and then I now invite— give the floor to the distinguished representative of Switzerland, to be followed by Mexico. Switzerland, you have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. President. Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, Switzerland has a highly developed and universal health system founded on the principles of openness and solidarity. And yet the quality of a health system is also measured by its ability to ensure equal access to services. Among notable progress in Switzerland, we can point to initiatives such as the Swiss Health Network for Equity, which is in the business of developing indicators for equal access to care and determines quality standards. Low-income countries are disproportionately affected by drastic cuts to development cooperation. Particularly when it comes to vaccination, sexual and reproductive health, and also when it comes to the fight against HIV and neglected tropical diseases. This exacerbates inequalities, and that is compounded by a rapid rollback of sexual and reproductive rights. Health is a priority in Switzerland's International Cooperation Strategy 2025 to 2028. Strengthening health systems and the promotion of greater equity of access to basic services in low-income countries are also at the heart of Switzerland's Foreign Policy on Health 2019 to 2028. Switzerland is proud to host in Geneva the multilateral health ecosystem, and we are actively committed to ensuring that it is provided with the necessary resources for its functioning and its impact all over the world. The implementation of SDG 3 requires several things. On the one hand, improving the quality and sustainable financing of health systems, and on the other hand, more significant investments in the key determinants of health, such as nutrition, education, gender equality, and human rights. Switzerland reaffirms its commitment to working for health systems where quality and performance go hand in hand with equity, so that no one is left behind. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Switzerland, and now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Mexico, to be followed by Costa Rica. Mexico, you have the floor.

Today in Mexico, we recognize that health is not an indicator of development. Rather, it is a fundamental right and a key factor in achieving more just, resilient, sustainable societies. Under the leadership of our president, Dr. Claudia Sheinbaum, we have established an agenda that is focused on guaranteeing rights, reducing inequalities, and promoting development from the first 100 days of her term. In this context, the National Development Plan establishes strategic pillars that focus on social justice and collective well-being, which consolidates a humanist and inclusive vision. The most relevant actions of this institutional roadmap include the restructuring of the health system, which is something that is designed as a priority policy for ensuring universal and free access to good quality health services by placing prevention— by establishing prevention as a national priority and expanding the concept of access to health to include inputs such as medication and medical materials. Today, there is free medical coverage for more than 10 million Mexicans with a network Of more than 600 hospitals and almost 12,000 medical facilities present in 23 of the country's states. In addition, programs such as Health House by House allow for medical services and preventive guidance to be brought closer to more than 14 million older adults and persons with disabilities. In parallel, we have a program called The Clinic Is Ours, which has seen the refurbishment and equipping of more than 14,000 health facilities and 700 community hospitals, strengthening primary care in communities. Moreover, we also have a program called Doctors for Well-Being, which ensures that medical personnel are present in rural areas and highly marginalized areas, thus breaking down historic barriers for areas in which access to health services were limited. Across all of these programs, Mexico has worked to build a framework, a progressive framework, when it comes to the right to health, to promote actions and strategies that incorporate a gender perspective, inclusion, and non-discrimination with approaches of intersectionality and cultural belonging. We are also working to continue to guarantee the right of teenagers and women to freely decide on the subject of their sexual and reproductive health, including paying attention to sexual and gender-based violence. We are convinced that the right to health cannot be determined by the place where someone is born nor by their socioeconomic circumstances. For our nations, it should be an ethical, technical, and political responsibility today, now more than ever.

Mic, sorry, mic is caught. I thank the distinguished representative of Mexico. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Costa Rica, to be followed by Mali. Costa Rica, you have the floor.

Mr. President, ensuring health and well-being for all requires a comprehensive vision in which states manage public health risks in a coherent, coordinated, and preventive manner. The One Health approach serves as the essential bridge between SDG 3 and the other Sustainable Development Goals. This interconnection is clearly seen in 2 critical areas. First, environmental protection as a cornerstone of public health. Environmental degradation, deforestation, and biodiversity loss exponentially increase the risk of zoonotic diseases, which account for 75% of emerging infectious diseases in humans. We therefore need integrated measures including sustainable agricultural practices, ecosystem protection, and pollution reduction. The human right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment is inseparable from the right to health. We cannot advance one without the other. The second critical area is health in contexts of fragility and conflict. In 2024, We face the highest number of armed conflicts since 1946. 61 active conflicts across 36 countries. These contexts show the greatest lag in achieving SDG 3, which demonstrates that peace and health are mutually dependent. Institutional fragility, violence, and extreme poverty obstruct basic services, increase maternal and child mortality, and facilitate disease transmission. In response to this reality, we require resilient community-based health systems capable of functioning even during crises by integrating humanitarian assistance with sustainable development. Mr. President, health transcends sectoral boundaries. It is the product of thriving ecosystems. systems, just societies, and peaceful communities. This comprehensive understanding compels us to act in a coordinated and decisive manner through multilateral and sustainable solutions. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Costa Rica. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Mali, to be followed by FAO. Mali, you have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. President. For more than a decade now, Mali has been facing considerable security challenges which unfortunately are affecting the rapid achievement of the SDGs. Despite the absolute priority that we grant to this vital sector for our country, the Government of Mali is pursuing and stepping up its efforts in promoting the well-being of our populations. Hence, in terms of ensuring access and improving the health services, particularly for maternal and neonatal health, we would like to note the following progress. We have free healthcare for malaria for children under 5 and pregnant women, free caesareans, and free supplies for acute malnutrition, as well as expansion of health coverage through the development and operationalization of community health centers. Furthermore, the government has made important strides in implementing recommendations of the 30th anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development and the 10th anniversary of the Addis Ababa Declaration on Population and Development. The following progress has been made here. We have assessed an estimated budget to achieve 3 key results in Mali, that is zero avoidable maternal deaths, zero gender-based violence, And zero unmet needs for family planning, speeding up our fight against obstetric fistula, rollout of community midwives and prefabricated maternity healthcare units, etc. In reproductive healthcare and family planning, we note the following progress. We've implemented a 10-year plan for health and social development, 2014 to 2023. We have a national strategic plan to secure health products for reproductive health to 2021, and the Strategic National Plan for Reproductive Health to 2024. We also have improved logistics in 36 health districts, which has allowed us to face stock disruptions for sexual and reproductive health products. Although 81% of deliveries happen in a healthcare center. We have considerable inequalities between urban and rural areas. These disparities contribute to maintaining a high level of maternal mortality. We are modernizing our health system and addressing great challenges by notably improving quality healthcare services through health facilities with technical, technical high-level platforms to avoid health evacuations. We're also looking at investing in human resources and continuing to operationalize the health— universal health insurance coverage, promoting research and production of traditional medications. And the speaker's microphone has been cut off.

I thank you. Thank the distinguished representative of Mali. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of FAO, to be followed by Uruguay.

Thank you, Mr. President, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen. Achieving Sustainable Development Goal 3 requires ensuring food safety and promoting healthy diets with the integration of One Health approach into food, veterinary and health policies and frameworks being essential to this effort. Food safety prevents foodborne illnesses, reduces exposure to hazardous chemicals, and combats waterborne diseases, contributing directly to health outcomes and mortality reduction. Poor diets are among the leading risk factors for premature death and noncommunicable diseases. In 2021, 10% of all deaths were associated with unhealthy diets. Enabling healthy diets is therefore critical. Promoting dietary patterns that are diverse, balanced, adequate, and moderate, such as those described in the FAO/WHO Joint Statement on Healthy Diets, can significantly reduce nutrition-related health risks. Ensuring that food is both safe and nutritious is inseparable from environmental sustainability. Environmental pollution can cause over 9 million deaths globally each year, But the burden of foodborne diseases from water and soil pollution remains underestimated. Monitoring these issues is critical to achieving SDG Targets 3.9. The One Health approach is vital for addressing food safety, antimicrobial resistance, infectious diseases, and environmental degradation. Cross-sectoral collaboration is key to prevent disease spillovers, mitigate chemical hazards, reduce ecosystem pressures, and protect livelihoods. Transforming agrifood systems to become more efficient, inclusive, sustainable, and resilient ensures production of safe, high-quality food, balancing environmental, social, and economic outcomes while supporting food security and nutrition. FAO plays a leading role in advancing these objectives. It supports countries in producing and accessing sufficient, safe, and nutritious food year-round, promoting integrated pest management, responsible antibiotic use, and sustainable livestock practices, reducing the use of highly hazardous pesticides, and monitoring and reducing pollution in agriculture. FAO also strengthens national capacities in biosecurity, diagnostics, risk reduction, and early warning systems, helping countries transform agri-food systems to improve health outcomes, reduce environmental harm, and build resilience against future health threats. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of FAO. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Uruguay, to be followed by Suriname.

Gracias.

Thank you. 10 years since the launch of the 2030 Agenda, we've learned that guaranteeing the human right to health and well-being requires a comprehensive approach that recognizes the interdependence between the social, economic, cultural, environmental dimensions of health— of development. In the case of Uruguay, this vision has been reflected in our public policies that promote equity with a comprehensive intersectoral approach, managing synergies between public policies and incorporating a preventive, territorial, and people-centered approach. Uruguay has an integrated national health system with universal coverage coverage and equitable access, through which we have been able to see synergies with other SDGs. This policy has made it possible to improve access to medical attention at the same time as contributing to reducing poverty, promoting gender equality, and consolidating social protection networks. Our accumulated experience shows that addressing the determinants of health, particularly social determinants of health, is key to maximizing the impacts and avoiding fragmented responses. Looking ahead to the next 5 years, we are convinced that moving towards universal health coverage means that we need to strengthen primary healthcare and preventive health services. In this context, it's important to continue stepping up our efforts to address non-transmittable— non-communicable diseases including cardiovascular diseases, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, and diabetes as part of universal health coverage. In Uruguay, we've prioritized policies for the comprehensive approaches to these diseases through— by promoting healthy habits, early diagnostics, and early access to treatment. For instance, we have pioneering policies in tobacco control such as plain packaging, bans on publicity and advertising, and 100% smoke-free areas. These have all had measurable approaches which have allowed us to move towards a community interdisciplinary approach based on human rights, moving away from these exclusively biomedic— biomedical model. Following along these lines and addressing the 2030 Agenda targets, not only in health but also in gender equity, universal access to sexual and reproductive healthcare should be key to our approach. For Uruguay, these services must be provided with a rights-based approaching without discrimination. Sexual education in the education system and free access to contraception should be ensured. These represent key pillars, especially for teenagers and women and vulnerable women. Health policies also need to be tailored to facing the new challenges. The climate crisis, for instance, means that we face increasing health risks, for instance, vector-borne diseases. And in parallel, we recognize enormous transformative potential of science, technology, and innovation in this sense. Health is a human right and a fundamental pillar to building more fair societies. We recognize the importance of international cooperation.

I thank the distinguished representative of Uruguay. Now I, now I give the floor to distinguished representative of Suriname, to be followed by Holy See. Suriname, you have the floor.

Honorable Chair, distinguished delegates, Suriname stands before you with unwavering conviction. Health is not merely a goal, it is the cornerstone of human dignity and the bedrock of sustainable development. Despite challenges, we have forged ahead with determination, making progress to strengthen our health systems and ensure access to quality care for every citizen wherever they live. What has the government done? We are implementing a comprehensive health systems improvement program supported by partners and stakeholders. We have launched a digital patient portal supported by electronic files and the My Health Patient app, empowering citizens and modernizing care. We have expanded healthcare infrastructure and improved maternal and child health outcomes. With prevention at the heart of our approach, we invested in training health professionals to close capacity gaps. Yet, brain drain remains a serious challenge, with many professionals seeking opportunities abroad due to economic realities we are determined to change. The COVID-19 pandemic was our greatest teacher, exposing our vulnerabilities but proving our resilience. It underscored the need for strong health system preparedness and sustainable financing. The WHO HEARTS Initiative is vital in tackling hypertension and diabetes, 2 leading drivers of noncommunicable diseases that cause 78% of Suriname's mortality. Through an integrated approach, we aim to confront these conditions and save lives. Suriname has achieved notable progress in malaria management, having practically eliminated the disease. Suriname's exemplary approach provides a blueprint for malaria elimination efforts throughout the Guyana Shield region, resulting in obtaining of the WHO malaria elimination certification. A national policy on sexual and reproductive health and rights focuses on maternal health and HIV services through a wide network of primary care centers reaching urban, rural, and interior communities. This is supported by the National Basic Health Insurance Act, which provides free basic healthcare to vulnerable groups. The Medical Mission Primary Healthcare Suriname embodies our promise to leave no one behind. This organization delivers primary healthcare to ITP communities across 90% of Suriname's interior, reaching 55,000 people in the most Its unique network of healthcare assistance and partnership has been vital for chronic disease management and maternal care. Despite financial and logistical challenges, the medical mission remains strong, innovating and bridging traditional and modern care. Suriname remains resolute. We will strengthen primary healthcare with a focus on prevention and early intervention. We call on our international partners to stand with small island developing states like Suriname to build resilient health systems that withstand economic shocks and health emergencies. Together, we can fulfill the promise of SDG 3 so that no one anywhere is left behind. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Suriname. Now I give the floor to His Excellency, Permanent Representative of Holy See, to be followed by Saudi Arabia.

Thank you, Mr. President. My delegation welcomes the discussion on the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.

In this regard, it is important to underscore that health is not merely the absence of illness, but a holistic state of physical, psychological, social, spiritual, and emotional well-being.

Regrettably, progress toward the achievement of SDG 3 remains uneven. Persistent obstacles, including fragile health systems, inadequate funding, and an increased burden of non-communicable diseases, continue to exacerbate existing health disparities. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed structural weaknesses, and aggravated existing inequality.

These disparities are evident in the millions of people who still lack access to basic healthcare, the stagnant maternal mortality rates, and the silent suffering of those with untreated mental health conditions. Achieving health and well-being for all also calls for special attention to be paid to the most vulnerable members of the human family, including unborn, children, elderly, persons with disabilities, migrants, and those living in conflict-affected areas.

Health is a right for all, not a privilege for the few, rooted in the fundamental truth that every human life is sacred and worthy of care from conception to natural death. Therefore, any approach that undermines human dignity or denies care based on perceived utility or cost must be rejected. Instead, there must be a commitment to health and well-being by protecting and serving those most at risk of being forgotten. Ideological or economic agenda must never shape healthcare.

It must remain person-centered.

Catholic health institutions play a vital role in achieving this, and strengthening partnerships with these institutions could therefore help to keep healthcare person-centered. The Catholic Church, which runs approximately a quarter of all health facilities worldwide, will continue to provide care—

to provide care to the poorest and those in the most remote areas.

Thank you.

I thank the Permanent Representative of Holy See. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Saudi Arabia, to be followed by United Kingdom. Saudi Arabia, you have the floor.

Honorable Chair, esteemed speakers, Ladies and gentlemen, from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, we greet you and say, assalamu alaikum, peace be upon you. Despite all challenges and despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the world has made some progress in achieving Sustainable Development Goals, specifically SDG 3. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia considers Sustainable Development Goals, especially SDG 3, totally in alignment with our Vision 2030, which is a transformative national framework that aims to build a prosperous society and a vital economy and an ambitious nation. We are a regionally and internationally pioneering country. We have achieved the 95-95-95 goals We have also reduced tuberculosis in the world and we have reached near total elimination of malaria as we have not recorded any cases in 4 years. We have also eliminated a number of other diseases. In the matter of maternity and infant Thank you. Maternal mortality has significantly reduced and nearly all cases of delivery are attended by a professional. And maternal mortality has been reduced to 6.4 per 1,000 and infant mortality has also been significantly reduced to 3.1 per 11,000. We have also reduced cancer and diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. We have also, with these interventions, reduced the risk of mortality between the ages of 30 and 70 years old to 14%. We've also increased mental and psychological health services in order to reach one of the lowest suicide rates in the world, and since 2016, we have reached a 54% decrease in road accidents. We have also adopted a number of digital healthcare solutions, thereby increasing universal healthcare to 83%, and 100% of all citizens are covered for primary healthcare services. This is through a combination of strategic investments and focus on preventative care. This has increased the life expectancy, which has reached 78.8% in 2024.

Thank you very much.

I thank the distinguished representative of Saudi Arabia. Now I give the floor to distinguished representative of United Kingdom. to be followed by Ghana. UK, you have the floor.

Thank you, President. The UK's commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals is unwavering. They are our shared vision for the world we want, and with less money, we must be more efficient and focused on impact. The Secretary-General's latest report on SDG 3 shows mixed results, while some health indicators have moved in the right direction, this is insufficient to meet the 2030 targets, and there is a risk that gains may be reversed. So we need to stay the course. The UK's global health work focuses on working in partnership for more equitable health outcomes, to strengthen health systems, and to leverage international finance. The global health institutions play an invaluable role. Last year, we announced new funding to the World Health Organization to drive its transformation agenda. Our Foreign Secretary recently pledged £1.25 billion for GAVI to vaccinate millions of children against the deadliest diseases, and we're excited to co-host this year's Global Fund replenishment with South Africa. But we need global health organizations to go further to maximize the impact, work closely together, and align with country priorities. Securing a new pandemic agreement in May proved what multilateralism can do. Last year's HLM on AMR was also a huge success, agreeing a global commitment to reduce AMR deaths by 10% by 2030. That same spirit can deliver a successful high-level meeting on non-communicable diseases at UNGA 80 to address a rising global burden. At the heart of the SDGs is rights and equity, and our Prime Minister has announced new UK partnerships to increase access to sexual and reproductive health for vulnerable and marginalized people. Much has been achieved, but we need to intensify our efforts. We are committed to working with you all to accelerate progress to 2030.

I thank you.

I thank Her Excellency, the Permanent Representative of United Kingdom. Now I give the floor to Distinguished representative of Ghana, to be followed by Poland. Ghana, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chairman. Distinguished delegates, Ghana reaffirms its unwavering commitment to achieving SDG 3. Significant progress has been made in ensuring a healthy population, such as the reduction in neonatal mortality, HIV prevalence, and the density of health professionals, particularly doctors, nurses and midwives. Ghana's rate of skilled personnel accompanied birth increased to 87.6% in 2022, doubling over the last 2 decades. This achievement is directly linked to expanded midwifery training and health insurance supported maternal services. Significant challenges, however, persist. Maternal mortality, while showing some decline from 310 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2017, reduced marginally to 301 in 2021. This remains particularly alarming, especially in underserved regions of the country. In pursuit of universal health coverage, Ghana in 2025 increased funding for the National Health Insurance Scheme, in addition to implementing strategic reforms and inclusive financing to strengthen health systems. The National Healthcare Quality Strategy 2024 to 2030 promotes patient-centered care and accountability, while the uncapping of the National Health Insurance Levy restores critical funding and reduces out-of-pocket expenses. Another major initiative is the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, which provides financial assistance for the treatment of chronic non-communicable diseases such as cancer, stroke, diabetes, renal disorders, and cardiovascular illnesses. This fund also supports investments in medical infrastructure, specialist training, and research, strengthening the resilience and equity of our health system. At the subnational level, local governments are mandated to spend 10% of central government transfers on health. Other interventions include accelerated construction and equipping of hospitals and integration of digital health platforms for improved health service delivery. As we invest in other strategic areas such as sanitation, education, and economic growth. We call on our development partners and the international community to join us to support equitable health service financing. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Ghana. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Poland, to be followed by Indonesia. Poland, you have the floor.

Dear Excellencies, distinguished delegates, the collaboration between Statistics Poland, the World Health Organization, and the UN Refugee Agency is a strong example of synergy between SDG 3, Good Health and Well-Being, and SDG 10, Reduced Inequalities. This initiative directly supports Target 10.7, which emphasizes facilitating safe, orderly, and regular migration through well-managed policies. A key outcome of Statistics Poland-WHO-UNHCR partnership is the publicly available dashboard Health of Refugees in Poland, which leverages science, technology, and innovation to advance SDG 3, especially for underserved populations in remote, conflict-afflicted, and vulnerable environments. This tool enables continuous monitoring of Ukrainian refugees' health status in Poland. The data presented on the dashboard, including experimental statistics, empower policymakers, healthcare providers, and humanitarian organizations to accurately assess health needs and take effective action to support refugees. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Poland. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Indonesia, to be followed by Thailand. Indonesia, you have the floor.

Excellencies, Over the past decade, Indonesia has embraced an integrated approach to SDG 3 by strengthening health services across the life cycles, covering promotive, preventive, curative, rehabilitative, and palliative care. This has been institutionalized through national health transformation efforts and the enactment of the Health Law. Our progress in reducing maternal and child mortality Increasing immunization coverage and expanding the national health insurance to nearly 99% of the population demonstrates the potential of universal equity-driven policy integrations. We highlight several promising innovations: digital platforms for health workforce training, expanded telemedicine in remote areas, medical records, integrated health information systems, and immunizations registry. These initiatives have improved access and efficiency, particularly in underserved regions. Indonesia has enhanced pandemic risk management through early warning systems, health emergency protocols, and public health emergency operation centers. These efforts are aligned with the One Health policy— One Health approach, linking human, animal, and environmental health. To ensure universal health coverage, we are working to strengthen access to essential medicines, reduce out-of-pocket expenditures, and improve primary healthcare. Progress requires addressing persistent inequalities. We recognize access to affordable vaccines and local production of vaccines as essential to address persistent inequities. Through targeted outreach, community-based services, and the use of telemedicine, we aim to leave no one behind, particularly in remote, border, and island areas. Indonesia stands ready to share and scale these experiences, and to collaborate with global partners to accelerate progress on SDG 3 toward a healthier, more resilient world for all. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Indonesia. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Thailand, to be followed by Germany. Thailand, you have the floor.

Thank you very much, Mr. President. Thailand would like to thank the panel for their insights and wishes to share reflections on SDG 3. Thailand has achieved significant progress in a number of SDG 3 targets, such as Target 3.8.1 on essential health service coverage, with coverage having reached 82% in 2021, exceeding the 80% target for 2030. Which has also been showcased in Thailand's 2025 Voluntary National Review. This is underpinned by the strengthened 30 baht plus universal health coverage scheme, where health services cost a flat rate of 30 baht, or less than $1, together with enhanced access to health services through digital health, expanding primary healthcare, promoting holistic health and NCDs prevention. On the other hand, we also recognize persisting critical challenges in our country, such as those on road safety and tuberculosis persistence and drug resistance still hindering SDG 3 progress. We would like to take this opportunity to share Thailand's experience, especially on what we have identified as key success factors that we believe should be scaled up. First, we reiterate the fundamental importance of primary healthcare which brings people into first contact with the health system. Second, we must work across all sectors through the health in all policies approach, as SDG 3 requires action beyond the traditional health sector and cuts across the 2030 Agenda. Third, we should enhance a meaningful participatory approach to health governance, including by institutionalizing social participation to build trust between the people and governments. Thailand's National Health Assembly and Village Health Volunteers Program are prime examples of putting this principle into action. Fourth, countries must recognize health promotion and disease prevention as a cost-effective investment for health resilience and good public health. Mr. President, Thailand remains committed to SDG 3 and looks forward to the upcoming high-level meeting on NCDs and mental health, which will give another necessary push for SDG 3 acceleration. Finally, we trust that through collaborative and innovative approaches, we can truly walk the talk to achieve good health and well-being for all, leaving no one behind.

I thank you very much.

I thank the distinguished representative of Thailand. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Germany, to be followed by Dominican Republic. Germany, you have the floor. Please, Frau Kluth.

Thank you, Mr. President. Health is a human right, not a privilege. Achieving health and well-being for all is a goal in its own right. It is also essential for reducing poverty, promoting stability and economic development, as well as achieving several other SDGs. Germany finds it therefore very concerning that more than half of the world's population still does not have access to essential health services, and that every year almost 100 million people fall into poverty due to high out-of-pocket costs for health services. This particularly affects women, girls, and vulnerable populations. It is even more concerning that further progress is stalled and past achievements are now threatened by the dramatic reductions in official development assistance for health, with severe impacts especially in, in low-income countries. If we want to achieve SDG 3, we need to make key changes now. We need to move towards more sustainable self-reliance, including by mobilizing more domestic resources and by making health a core national priority. In addition to solving existing challenges, we must also address emerging health risks such as climate change, biodiversity loss, increased population, potential pandemics, and antimicrobial resistance following the One Health approach, addressing the interconnectedness of human, animal, and ecosystem health. The time to act is now. Germany actively engages in discussions around the reforms of the Global Health ecosystem. Achieving SDG 3 requires a multi-sectoral approach. Good health depends on the availability of medical health, public health measures that include health promotion and prevention of disease, as well as access to clean water, sufficient nutrition, and quality education, particularly for women and girls, as well as healthy environment that supports overall well-being. We are committed to supporting our partner countries in strengthening how their health systems, setting up social protection systems, and enhancing local pharmaceutical production, as well as working together in a multilateral forum to find solutions. These efforts can only be achieved through solidarity and collaboration. Germany is and will remain a reliable partner in global health. Only together we can advance SDG 3 globally, nationally, fostering development and securing futures. Thank you very much.

I thank the distinguished representative of Germany. Now I give the floor to the distinguished English representative of Dominican Republic, to be followed by Canada.

Thank you very much, Mr. President. For the Dominican Republic, moving towards the implementation of SDG 3 has involved the structural transformation of our view of the health system. As a middle-income country and a growing country, we are facing a distinct epidemiological profile from previous decades. Transmissible diseases, communicable diseases are no longer our main challenge. Today, we are dealing with a growing burden of chronic non-communicable diseases, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, as well as dietary habits, obesity, and overweight. In response to this, in the framework of our National Health Development Plan 2030, we have put promoting healthy habits, such as— as well as school feeding and strengthening primary care, as strategic priorities. The More Health, Longer Life, Longer Life Expectancy strategy promotes the prevention of non-communicable diseases with free access to medication and timely monitoring for cardiovascular diseases. We have also launched the National Digital Health Strategy, which aims to close access gaps through technology. Political decisions need to be in line with financing programmes, and we have determined 7 budgetary programmes aimed at achieving action that are related to health, and these include: preventing infant and maternal mortality, school health programs, a program to combat prostate and cervical cancer, and the prevention of teenage pregnancies. On top of that, there is a significant investment in expanding our health infrastructure and refurbishing it, both in terms of quality and quantity of health personnel. Another one of many progress achievements has been increasing health coverage. bringing us close to universal access to health coverage. These efforts have helped significantly reduce the level of teenage pregnancies to 18% in 2024, and to improve infant mortality indicators, which is now around 15 per 1,000 live births, as well as life expectancy, which went from— reached 75 in 2024. Nevertheless, we still face persistent challenges, including reducing deaths from non-transmissible, non-communicable diseases. That rate remains high. This last indicator also reflects the attention that we are paying to migrant populations, including Haitian women. Many of them are in a situation of great vulnerability. We are aware of our global responsibilities, and we reiterate our commitment to the 2030 Agenda and to a more just and inclusive health system that is focused on persons. Thank you very much.

I thank the distinguished representative of Dominican Republic. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Canada, to be followed by Russian Federation. Canada, you have the floor.

Thank you, Excellencies, distinguished delegates. As we discuss SDG 3 and its interlinkages, an important thing to consider is who we're not hearing from. What voices have yet to be meaningfully heard in 2030 Agenda discussions? The voices of Indigenous peoples, older adults, youth, people with disabilities, both visible and invisible, people who suffer from addiction, and their families. Canadians enjoy relatively good health and well-being, but do not experience it equally. Reducing health inequalities and systemic barriers is a federal priority. The Government of Canada is taking steps. At home, this means work with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis partners to support access to high-quality mental health and wellness services, and supporting Indigenous peoples in assuming control of service delivery in areas that they choose. Canada's recent Pharmacare Act is a step forward to improve health equity, affordability, and outcomes for Canadians. It will start out by covering a range of contraception and diabetes medication. Internationally, Canada has a 10-year commitment which began in 2019 to advance the health and rights of women and girls around the world. This involves promoting comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights, and gender-responsive nutrition services. Ensuring the inclusion of sexual and reproductive health services in primary healthcare strengthens health systems and advances the 2030 Agenda. Canada's recent investment in GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, will strengthen global health security by expanding outbreak prevention. Canada is making progress on the SDGs, but we have a lot of work to do to ensure that no one is left behind. We're interested in learning from member states how they're meaningfully including marginalized voices in their SDG work. Progress can only happen when the people left unheard are not just invited, but given space to shape the way forward. Thank you. Merci.

I thank the distinguished representative of Canada, and now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Russian Federation, to be followed by United Arab Emirates. Russian Federation, you have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. President. We would also like to thank the panelists and the moderator for the discussion. We would like to share our approaches to to achieving SDG 3. In Russia, strengthening our citizens' health is a state priority, and the free provision of medical care is guaranteed by the state. In 2024, national projects concluded that were called Healthcare and Demography. They allowed for us to ensure unprecedented results from the healthcare sector despite the complex period of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was possible to lower the overall mortality rate by 2.5% compared with the level in 2019. We achieved a manifold reduction in maternal and infant mortality, which today is 9 for every 100,000 live births. Coverage with preventive examinations in 2024 reached 74.7%. In 2023-2024, 12,000 new doctors were trained. We prioritise the prevention of non-communicable diseases. Work is being done on healthy nutrition, and over the last 5 years, the level of tobacco consumption has fallen by 23%. The percentage of citizens that are engaging in regular physical activity or sport at the end of 2023 2023 was 57%. We are continuing to contribute to achieving SDG 3 not only in Russia but also at the international level. In the past 4 years, in our country, more than 21 million foreign citizens received medical care, and medical education was provided for citizens of more than 150 states. Russian specialists, free of charge, provided training to more than 6,000 midwives and neonatal physicians from countries with high infant and maternal mortality. A serious barrier to boosting this support at the international level are illegal unilateral coercive measures. Healthcare, in particular achieving the indicators of SDG 3, should remain outside self-serving political interests and should serve to unify our efforts to preserve the health of the population of the entire world. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Russian Federation. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of United Arab Emirates, to be followed by Philippines. UAE, you have the floor.

Your Excellencies, may the peace of God be upon you. I am honored today to share this statement here and to reiterate the UAE's commitment to support the global efforts to achieve SDG 3, good health and well-being for all. We in the UAE believe that the Human health is unfragmented and is a fundamental right and must be part of an integrated health system. And at the forefront of this is the health of the eye that still faces underattention in many systems. Eye care is included in our national system guaranteeing health for all. And so that the impact is high, we understand that overcoming financial barriers is necessary. Expanding universal healthcare and guaranteeing the availability of care are all necessary factors for an equitable health system. As for innovation, it comes at the core of our efforts in the UAE. We use AI applications and remote tools to achieve healthcare for all. One such initiative is Noor Dubai, which is one of the Mohammed bin Rashid Organization's initiatives. Which was able since 2008 to improve the lives of more than 30 million persons in Asia and Africa. This initiative proves how health innovation can be environment-friendly and inclusive. Your Excellencies, my country's vision does not end at our borders, but it extends It's giving to all persons, and we emphasize that we will leave no one behind. In conclusion, I call on you all to work together and to invest in innovative solutions and partnerships to support eye health as a pillar of inclusive and comprehensive health. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of United Arab Emirates. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Philippines, to be followed by Lesotho.

Thank you, Mr. President. The Philippines highlights SDG 3 as a key component of socioeconomic development and full enjoyment of other SDGs. For this reason, we need to integrate health into all aspects of society, including in the economy, education, governance, and environmental and climate protection, among others. Our commitment to the health agenda is guided by our Universal Health Care Act and 8-point health agenda. All stakeholders should contribute in this regard, including the youth sector. In the Philippines, youth-led organizations have been at the forefront of advocacy work in their respective communities, such as mental well-being, sexual and reproductive health and HIV, critical issue— health issues that require the awareness and proactive involvement of our youth. The Philippines therefore implements tailor-fitted programs for the youth. The Philippine Department of Health launched the Adolescent and Youth Health and Development Program, ensuring that the government provides quality healthcare and access. Such programs promote an enabling environment for youth initiatives and partnerships. In my personal capacity as a youth leader, I founded the Kasama Foundation in the Philippines, which advocates for youth mental health not only through awareness but through tangible community-based initiatives grounded in the belief that youth empowerment begins with mental well-being. We have conducted workshops, peer support circles, and safe space sessions.

We can—

we remain committed to reaching more communities. So that no young person is left behind and for them to become a resilient and engaged member of society. The international community must remain steadfast in supporting SDG 3, especially, especially at a time when multilateral institutions face difficulties. The WHO Pandemic Treaty adopted during the Philippines presidency of the recent World Health Assembly shall shows how we, through collective determination, can spark hope for meaningful change. Together, working hand in hand with the youth, let us chart the course of good health and well-being for present and future generations. Thank you, Mr. President.

I thank the distinguished representative of Philippines. Now I give the floor to the distinguished language representative of Lesotho, to be followed by Spain. Lesotho, you have the floor.

Thank you, Moderator, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen. Health is indeed a fundamental human right and core aspiration of every individual. Lesotho made tremendous progress towards HIV epidemic control for the 99-99-99 UNAIDS targets. 95% of people know their status, and of those who know their status, 94% are on ART. And we have surpassed the third 95. 99% of people on ART are virally suppressed. Maternal mortality reduction declined from an alarming 1,155 deaths per 1,000— 100,000 live births in 2009 to 530 per 1,000— 100,000 in 2023-24. Recent donor funding cuts may undermine the achieved HIV epidemic control, calling for robust domestic resource mobilization in an already resource-constrained economy.

Thank you.

However, Lesotho is committed to sustaining investments and progress made in addressing HIV and AIDS and maternal mortality and calls on support of partners. Lesotho is working towards enhancing coordination of systems in the implementation of SDGs. For instance, implementing strategies for ending hunger and achieving food security and nutrition which is SDG 2, for improved health of the people, which is SDG 3, ensuring that there are more people, there are more productive people to participate in economic growth, which is our SDG 8, thus leveraging on the interconnectedness of SDGs and the One Health approach for better results. In conclusion, data quality and availability is highly prioritized Lesotho has opted for use of citizen-generated data and administrative data to close the data gaps where primary data is not available. Lesotho is also committed— is also in the process of endorsing the health digital strategy that addresses gender inequalities and inclusivity and any marginalized or isolated groups in the spirit of achieving universal health coverage. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Lesotho. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Spain, to be followed by Zambia. Spain, you have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. President, distinguished delegates. Spain understands health in terms of human rights as an essential key factor for achieving sustainable development with a cross-cutting approach in all of its policies. We are aware of the global challenges, and recently Spain launched a Global Spanish Health Strategy 2025-2030, which promotes robust, universal, equitable, and resilient health systems at the international level. Nationally, we continue to strengthen the universality and equity of our health system. We are moving forward with new laws to expand rights, strengthen citizens' participation, and to ensure coordination between health and social services. We have just adopted the— established the State Agency for Public Health, a key instrument to responding to current and future threats. Spain is implementing an ambitious primary care action plan. Another priority is improving mental health. We have the existing national strategy, as well as a plan of action for suicide prevention. We are working actively on a specific regulation to reverse the high levels of obesity and overweight and other associated non-communicable diseases, especially among the infant and youth population. While measures are focused on the— we're doing this through measures focused on the food environment, promoting healthy diets, and encouraging physical activity. We have also expanded the services offered by the national healthcare system with neonatal screenings, oral, dental, and visual care, genetic and genomic tests, and we are modernizing our health system with investments in health technology and expanding proton therapy. Regarding the impact of the climate crisis on health, Spain has created the Health and Climate Crisis— Climate Change Observatory, and we are combating also HIV/AIDS stigma as a key national priority. Internationally, global health occupies pride of place in the multilateralism support plan presented by the Sanchez government. during the International Conference on Financing for Development in Sevilla. Spain will strengthen its participation in international specialized organizations on global health in line with its Global Health Strategy 2025-2030. We will work closely with the World Health Organization, the GAVI Alliance, the Global Fund Against AIDS, Malaria, and Tuberculosis, the Gates Foundation, UNITAID, and the Pandemic Fund, among others. Spain will support a renewed global health architecture €350 million will go to global health, €145 million will go to the fight against AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria, and €130 million will go to the GAVI. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Spain. Now I give the floor to distinguished representative of Zambia, to be followed by Malaysia. Zambia, you have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. President. Your Excellencies, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, Zambia welcomes the consideration and prioritization of health in key engagements in the year 2025, including the Commission on Population and Development and the forthcoming World Summit for Social Development. Zambia has made significant effort and recorded progress towards the attainment of SDG 3. Over 85% of children under 5 have been vaccinated against polio, marking a significant public health milestone. Child stunting has been reduced to 32% as of 2024, making steady progress in combating malnutrition. Various interventions supported by cooperating partners have led to a reduction in child mortality rates. Maternal mortality rates have also declined from 252 to 187, deaths per 100,000 live births in 2024. The government has also made significant effort in recruiting frontline health personnel to enhance health service delivery. We implore all cooperating partners to renew their financial commitments to continue saving the lives of the babies and mothers. Despite this progress, Zambia's implementation of SDG 3 is confronted with various challenges, among them inadequate health financing, infrastructure, and human resources, especially in the rural and peri-urban areas. These have been compounded by factors including but not limited to climate change that worsens health conditions. Pandemics and disease outbreaks constrain the healthcare system worldwide, fiscal deficits. These agents need to invest in healthcare infrastructure, human resources, and essential medicines. We further look for investments to improve the healthcare system, by strengthening statistical capacity to enhance data-driven decision-making and implementing an efficient civil registration and vital statistics system necessary for monitoring and evaluating progress towards implement— towards the promotion of universal health coverage and the attainment of SDG 3. The COVID-19 pandemic, whose effects continue to be felt even in present day, exposed the weaknesses in the global health system. It is imperative to invest in the public health system to build resilience. SDG 3 is intricately linked to other SDGs. Progress in health directly influences education outcomes, economic productivity and decent work, poverty reduction, and reduced inequalities. In this regard, we commend the international community for their efforts to honor existing commitments and call for enhanced implementation of commitments. including the recently adopted Compromiso de Sevilla to bridge the SDG financing gap in health. We also look forward to continued and renewed partnerships in a coordinated multi-sectoral approach to addressing SDG 3, as good health and well-being underpin the implementation of the rest of the SDGs. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Zambia. Now I give the floor the distinguished representative of Malaysia, to be followed by Zambia. By the way, Zambia will be the last speaker in this session. Zambia.

Good afternoon, Mr. President, Excellencies. Malaysia reaffirms its strong commitment to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all. At all ages. Health is recognized not only as a fundamental human right, but also as a prerequisite for inclusive economic growth and social stability. Malaysia has made good progress in maternal health. In 2023, the maternal mortality ratio dropped to 25.7 per 100,000 live births, This improvement is due to better access to skilled birth attendants and affordable antenatal care, helping ensure safer childbirth for women, women across the country. Child health has continued to improve. Better access to healthcare and national immunization efforts have helped reduce the under-5 mortality rate from 8.6 in 2022 to 8.3 per 1,000 live births in 2023. Non-communicable diseases are also a growing concern, with half of the screened adults found to be overweight or obese. Therefore, NCD strategies are being strengthened through prevention, healthier lifestyles, and better care for chronic conditions. Malaysia is also using data-driven approaches to reduce risk factors like smoking, poor diets, and lack of exercise. Community programs and partnerships with the private sector play a key role in these efforts. Malaysia has also made steady progress in controlling communicable diseases. HIV/AIDS cases have slightly declined since 2016 due to focused prevention and treatment. Tuberculosis control is also showing positive results. For Hepatitis B, the rate among children under 5 dropped from 0.35% in 2022 to 0.3% in 2023. Mr. President, moving forward, key priorities will include upgrading healthcare facilities, diversifying health financing, and expanding access to quality and affordable care.

Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Malaysia. Now, I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. Zimbabwe reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the attainment of SDG 3. We view health not only as a fundamental right, but also as a critical enabler of sustainable development, central to the achievement of Zimbabwe's national development aspirations of an upper-middle-income by 2030. Our approach is holistic, Mr.

Chair.

We recognize that health underpins progress on SDGs 1, 2, 5, 6, 8, 13, and 17. We are therefore investing in health systems while advancing food security, gender equality, climate resilience, and inclusive growth. Tangible progress has been recorded in our efforts to strengthen primary healthcare systems, Maternal and under-5 mortality rates have declined due to expanded health infrastructure and development of community health workers. HIV prevalence dropped from 18% to 14%, supported by our innovative AIDS levy, a sustainable model of domestic health financing. Zimbabwe underscores the importance of interlinkages between SDG 3 and other SDGs. Recognizing that health outcomes are closely intertwined with broader development priorities. Through the implementation of climate-proof agriculture, my government is addressing malnutrition while enhancing the resilience of communities to climate-related shocks. Investments in WASH under NDS 1 are contributing to the reduction of waterborne diseases. Gender-sensitive policies have been enhanced, access to reproductive health services, particularly for rural women. Institutional coordinating mechanisms such as the Health Sector Coordination Framework are promoting policy coherence, operational efficiency, and strengthened partnership, SDG 17. However, challenges persist. These include limited fiscal space, shortages of health personnel in remote areas, and the quality and equity gaps in informal settlements. To accelerate progress, Zimbabwe calls for: 1, scaling up domestic health financing, building on innovative models such as Zimbabwe AIDS Levy; strengthening digital health and real-time system— data systems; 3, mainstreaming gender-sensitive and climate resilience services into primary healthcare; and formalizing community engagement through youth and women as frontline health sectors. In conclusion, Mr. Chair, Zimbabwe stands firm in its conviction that health is not a sectoral issue, but a national imperative that underpins sustainable development. With the whole-of-society commitment and effective partnership, we are confident that SDG 3 is within reach by 2030. I thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Zimbabwe. Excellencies, distinguished delegates, we just have heard from the last speaker on the list. Unfortunately, due to the high interest in the topic of the discussion and time constraint, it was not possible to hear from all those wishing to intervene. Hope You appreciate it. Now I will give the floor back to the moderator to hear reflections from the panelists as well as his own concluding remarks. I request you to wrap up with 1 minute each. Thank you.

Thank you very much indeed, President, and let me come first of all to Magdalena. Let's hear your reflections.

Thank you. I want to thank all Member States, civil society organizations, and stakeholders, UN agencies that shared their continued commitments to SDG 3, shared lessons learned, progress being made in their countries, and challenges also that they are facing. I think this has been a very rich conversation. Conversation that we, we heard from you, and it gives us hope for multilateralism. I heard Lusaka Agenda. I heard we need to work together. I heard solidarity, and I think this is what we need to do— work together to make progress. Finally, I want to say governments cannot do it alone. We need to work with civil society organizations. We need to work with the private sector, put communities at the center, bring them to the table not just to take photos but to listen to what they have to say, and most importantly, put people at the center of all that we do. So civil society, feel acknowledged, recognized. You really have an important role to play, and we call on redistribution of power from government to civil society, from Global North to Global South, from rich to poor, from men to women. We need to redistribute power so that we have a better world for everyone. Thank you.

Thank you. So I will use my 1 minute to make 2 quick points. The first is to say I had overwhelming consensus from every single member, no disagreement That we need to act. The question now is, can we put our money where our mouth is as we go through the rest of the week and we get to the ministerial high-level meeting next week? Should we all collectively ensure that action follows all of the conversation? The second is to respond to the question from the South African delegate where you asked, what should countries with debt do? I'll quickly say, A, Efficiency— so much waste in donor-led, whether it's the consultants, etc. Progressive taxation— making sure that the poorest are protected by progressive taxation. Looking at the gift horse in the mouth, so when the donor comes to you, if you spend your resources frugally, you should be able to tell them to spend it on your basic healthcare and/or go away if they can't. Private sector engagement, but do it responsibly. And then finally, perhaps it's time for those that hold patents and hold know-how to be generous so that the cost of technologies are reduced for the poorest in the world. Thank you.

Thank you, Ibrahim.

Thank you both for your brevity. And just some final reflections from myself, President, if that's okay. We've heard we need to move beyond the rhetoric to action because we haven't done what we promised we would do. We need to reframe health as a prerequisite to sustainability and equity, as an investment in people and not a cost, as a right and not a privilege, and as a positive resource for achieving our economic, social, community potential. We need to break down the silos that allow us to see the problems more clearly than the solutions. We need to build our scientific evidence and build trust and address misinformation and disinformation in the way we apply that science and evidence. What we lack in funding, we have to make up in clarity of purpose, in passion, in determination, and in the courage to do things differently. We have to remember that SDG 3 is the mirror in which the entire SDGs and the 2030 Agenda reflect themselves, and as the thread that can— One Health is the thread that can pull all of them together, if I'm not mixing my metaphors. And if I might finally just reflect on what Magda said earlier on, when we look for hope, we want hope, we have to think about the youth. They have the passion and they have the potential, and we need to include them. Thank you, President.

I thank the moderator and also our panelists for your reflections. I once again thank the moderator for expertly guiding these discussions. I also thank our excellent panelists, additional speakers, Magda Rubalo and Ibrahim Abubakar, and for their excellent presentations. And I thank all the participants for your substantive and valuable contributions. With this, we have thus completed our program of work.

Thank you, Mr. President. That concludes the agenda for this meeting. The forum will reconvene tomorrow at 10 AM to continue with its program of work. Detailed information on the program is available on the HLPF website. The meeting is adjourned.