8 November 2018 – The World Health Organization (WHO), in collaboration with the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, organized a national launch of Sustainable Development Goal 3 localization in Pakistan on 30 October 2018 in Islamabad. The event aimed to disseminate national indicators and targets for the health-related goals as key outcomes of a localization exercise, including extensive provincial consultations with Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Baluchistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.
A wide range of multiple stakeholders attended the event, including high profile senior officials from the Ministry, provincial health departments, including the Health Secretary, Director-General Health Services from all provinces; officials from the Ministry of Planning, Development and Reforms, provincial planning departments, SDG Federal and Provincial Secretariat focal points; United Nations heads of agencies in Pakistan, development partners, donors and representatives of civ il society organizations.
Dr Nausheen Hamid, Parliamentary Secretary for Health, inaugurated the event. ”The Government is committed to implementing the SDG 3 agenda through its localization and integration in health strategies and plans both at national and provincial levels. The completion of localization process with the contribution of partners and stakeholders have paved the way to achieve SDG 3 targets through universal health coverage”, she said while addressing the audience.
“Pakistan is one of the first countries globally to complete the SDG 3 localization process as a notable achievement. The centrality of the sustainable development agenda in human development will drive the achievement of all committed targets and goals in the country. The Ministry has embarked on the extensive localization process of SDG 3 indicators and milestones for targets with the full support of provincial and area Governments. Development of province/area specific policies and strategies along with robust monitoring frameworks are essential next steps for implementation and monitor the progress on SDGs,” Dr Assad Hafeez, Director-General Health, added.
Dr Nima Saeed Abid, acting WHO Representative for Pakistan said that “Health is defined as a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Monitoring health indicators and trends, as well as strengthening health information systems are among the core functions of WHO and for that organization is committed to support all stakeholders for SDG 3 implementation and forthcoming voluntary national review”.
Mr Neil Buhne, UN Resident Coordinator in Pakistan, expressed appreciation for the localization efforts and committed support to Government of Pakistan from UN system to move the sustainable development agenda forward. He emphasized that the localized targets and indicators should be used and integrated in planning, development and monitoring frameworks for progress committed in 2030 agenda.
National launch event was concluded with the revealing of SDG-3 Application for Mobile Phones. This app serves as an online mechanism for android users to easily get updated SDG3 Goals/Target and Indicators status for Pakistan as and when required. The mobile app is developed in a very user-friendly configuration, consisting information in the form of infographics, charts and tables that can be accessed easily with connectivity anywhere, anytime.