“We believe that business and nonprofit organizations must work together to create sustainable social change. Only by combining the strengths and expertise of both sectors can we make a significant impact.”~ Ford Foundation
Innovative thinking is required to find solutions for social issues in a large and complex environment such as India. This has to come from a host of stakeholders including NGOs, the government, the private sector, and civil society. The confluence of ideas can only be translated into action when these groups are connected with common goals, leading to synergy. Positive outcomes are achieved when ideas are shared and relationships are formed, leading to a building of trust.
Challenges And Impediments for Achieving SDG 3 in India
Ensuring good health and well-being for all and achieving goals in a large country such as India is fraught with challenges. A large population, varying social norms and cultures, and availability of resources place impediments that require partnerships. The state, on its part, continues to play a proactive role in achieving the goals as set under the SDG 3. However, it faces challenges that require a collective effort to overcome these obstacles.
- Healthcare Infrastructure. India’s healthcare infrastructure is insufficient to meet the needs of its vast population. Despite major strides made in this area, there remains a shortage of hospitals, doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers in many parts of the country. Also, quality healthcare infrastructure is concentrated in urban areas, leaving rural areas with inadequate access to services.
- Disease Load. The incidence of communicable and noncommunicable diseases continues to be high in India, especially in the rural context. This is a strain on India’s healthcare system and a major issue in achieving goals SDG 3.
- Malnutrition and Sanitation Issues. Malnutrition and poor sanitation, especially among children is still rampant in rural India. This leads to weak immune systems and stunted growth.
- Limited Financial Resources. Though the government has increased its spending and allocations for healthcare, the resources still fall short, considering the vast population and dispersed landscape. Budgetary constraints limit the ability of the government to create infrastructure and expand access to healthcare. Though the government has taken key steps to tackle the issues of sanitation through the Swacch Bharat Abhiyan, these do not cover the entire population.
- Environmental Factors. Air pollution, water pollution, and climate change have had a significant impact on the health of rural communities in India. These led to respiratory, diarrheal, and other health diseases.
- Inadequate Health Education. Health awareness is limited in India, particularly in rural areas. This leads to health risks and limited knowledge of preventive measures.
Tackling these challenges requires a multi-pronged and collaborative approach by key stakeholders including NGOs and the private sector. Targeted interventions are the need of the hour along with sustained investments in healthcare to address health issues and achieve the goals of SDG3.
Ensuring good health and well-being for all and achieving goals in a large country such as India is fraught with challenges. The state, on its part, continues to play a proactive role in achieving the goals as set under SDG 3.
Achieving SDG3 Goals The India Story
Significant progress so far in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 3 in recent years includes key interventions and achievements such as:
- Immunization Programs. This is one area where India has made considerable progress by increasing coverage. India’s Universal Immunization Programme has helped increase vaccination rates for diseases such as polio, measles, and rubella. The success story of the COVID-19 vaccination program has been recognized across the world.
- Maternal and child health. Significant progress has been made in this area as well. The maternal and infant mortality rates have registered a decline, and the National Health Mission has helped to improve access to services in these areas.
- Communicable and Noncommunicable Diseases. Progress is being made to reduce the burden of malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS. Similarly, India has also made progress in addressing non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. However, much work is required in this area.
- Health Insurance Scheme. The Indian government’s flagship health insurance scheme, Ayushman Bharat, was launched recently to provide health protection to vulnerable households and improve access to healthcare services. This scheme has provided crores of people with access to essential health services.
- Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. This universal program has improved the status of sanitation and hygiene in the country. The program has helped reduce open defecation by increasing access to toilets. This and improved hygiene practices have contributed to reducing the burden of communicable diseases.
- National Nutrition Mission. To curb malnutrition across the country, the government launched POSHAN Abhiyaan to improve nutritional outcomes for children, pregnant women, and lactating mothers. This program reduces stunting, malnutrition, and anemia in women and children.
- Jan Aushadhi Scheme. Under this scheme, the government is providing affordable generic drugs to patients. This has led to improved access to affordable essential medicines, particularly for those from low-income households.
While these initiatives demonstrate the government’s commitment to improving health outcomes in the country, there is still much work to be done. The goal of addressing challenges and achieving SDG 3 in its entirety has a dimension that requires non-state players such as NGOs and corporates to contribute to addressing the cause.
There has been significant progress so far in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 3 in recent years. Some of the key interventions and achievements include: Read and learn.
Corporate-NGO Partnerships How They Can Help In The Vision
Corporate-NGO partnerships are critical to achieving SDG 3 in India. They can be a supplement to the efforts of the state, and partnerships can be leveraged to realize the goals of SDG 3.
- Collaborative Initiatives. Corporates and NGOs can partner to develop and implement initiatives that address the healthcare challenges faced by rural communities in India. This can be done by joint efforts to set up health camps, provide medical supplies and affordable drugs, etc.
- Awareness Campaigns. Joint and collaborative campaigns can help raise awareness of the benefits of self-care and preventive practices. This can be done through information and awareness campaigns and working with local communities.
- Resources for Health Initiatives. Corporates, through their corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds or philanthropy, can look to support health programs and initiatives.
- Building Capacity of corporates. NGOs can provide expertise to corporates to enable them to build capacity to improve health-related activities across organizations and communities. This involves training on issues such as health literacy, prevention of diseases, and health promotion.
Several corporate-NGO partnerships in India are working toward achieving SDG 3. Some are:
- The Tata Trusts and the Indian Cancer Society
- Hindustan Unilever and Population Services International (PSI)
- Biocon Foundation and the Karnataka government
- Abbott India and CARE India
These demonstrate the potential for collaboration between the private sector and NGOs to improve healthcare outcomes and promote well-being for all.
Corporate-NGO partnerships are critical to achieving SDG 3 in India. They can supplement the efforts of the state, and partnerships can be leveraged to realize the goals of SDG 3.
S M Sehgal Foundation: Contributing to SDG3
S M Sehgal Foundation (Sehgal Foundation) has been working since 1999 to improve the quality of life of rural communities in India. A rural development NGO, S M Sehgal Foundation was established as a public-charitable trust to create and implement sustainable programs to address rural India’s most pressing needs. Main program areas: Water Management, Agriculture Development, Local Participation, and Sustainability, Transform Lives one school at a time, and Outreach for Development. These programs are supported by a skilled research team that engages in participatory research, impact assessment, and interactive dialogues to determine informed actions to achieve sustainable results.
The S M Sehgal Foundation is working toward achieving SDG 3 by focusing on improving access to healthcare services in underserved communities. Some of its initiatives in this regard:
- Providing nutrition awareness
- Building health conscious communities
- Responding to health emergencies such as COVID-19
S M Sehgal Foundation continues to make a significant contribution to the achievement of SDG 3 in India. Improving access to healthcare services and promoting healthy behaviors is helping to ensure good health and well-being for all.
As a rural development NGO, S M Sehgal Foundation functions on a social business model. Some key components of its efforts are in the area of
- Fundraising
- Partnerships for leveraging resources and expertise
- Creating and implementing programs to improve access to healthcare services in rural communities.
- Monitoring and evaluation of its programs and activities
- Outreach to raise awareness about health issues
S M Sehgal Foundation is helping India achieve its mission of improving access to healthcare services in underserved communities in India and increasing the potential for collective action to achieve SDG 3 in India.
Corporate-NGO partnerships for healthcare in India are a powerful tool to address the healthcare needs of underserved populations. S M Sehgal Foundation is helping to bridge the gaps in the system through its expertise and the ability to reach a wider rural audience. Working together with corporates helps in synergizing the requirements of resources, on-the-ground knowledge, and community connections.
Corporate-NGO partnerships for healthcare in India are a powerful tool to address the healthcare needs of underserved populations. S M Sehgal Foundation is helping to bridge the gaps.
FAQs
Ensuring good health and well-being for all and achieving goals in a large country such as India is fraught with challenges. A large population, varying social norms and cultures, and limited resources place impediments that require partnerships. The state, on its part, continues to play a proactive role in achieving the goals as set under the SDG 3. However, it faces challenges that require a collective effort to overcome these obstacles, such as healthcare infrastructure, disease load, malnutrition and sanitation issues, limited financial resources, environmental factors, and inadequate health education.
Corporate-NGO partnerships are critical to achieving SDG 3 in India. They can supplement the efforts of the state, and partnerships can be leveraged to realize the goals of SDG3.
- Collaborative initiatives
- Awareness campaigns
- Resources for health initiatives
- Building capacity of corporates
The S M Sehgal Foundation is working toward achieving SDG 3 by focusing on improving access to healthcare services in underserved communities. Some of its initiatives in this regard are
- Providing health awareness
- Strengthening healthcare infrastructure
- Responding to health emergencies
As a rural development NGO, S M Sehgal Foundation functions on a social business model. Some key components of its efforts are in the area of
- Fundraising
- Partnerships for leveraging resources and expertise
- Creating and implementing programs to improve access to healthcare services in rural communities.
- Monitoring and evaluation of its programs and activities
- Outreach to raise awareness about health issues
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