The example of antimicrobial resistance and its connection to the SDGs

Health has a central place within all SDGs (SDG3 Good health and well-being: Ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being at all ages is vital to sustainable development), indicating the interconnectedness of health with almost all other SDGs, and covers a wide spectrum of KI's research and education activities.

Source: Health in the SDG era WHO

Apart from SDG3, KI takes the lead globally in conducting research around health issues and their interconnectedness with several SDGs.

Antimicrobial resistance as an example

In this module we will take a look at the example of antimicrobial resistance as a health issue that is clearly connected to several SDGs - not just SDG3. This, of course applies to many other health issues as well, perhaps also including the topic of your education/research. After we have looked at the example of antimicrobial resistance in particular, you may also acquaint yourself with the extra resources at the end of this course module, to learn more about how a number of health issues connect with the SDGs.

In 2016, member states of the United Nations affirmed that “antimicrobial resistance challenges the sustainability and effectiveness of the public health response to diseases as well as gains in health and development and the attainment of the 2030 Agenda.”

The infographic below demonstrates 5 ways where antibiotic resistance disrupts the Sustainable Development Goals:

AMR_SDGs 2.png

Source: Tracking antimicrobial resistance in the Sustainable Development Goals

Please keep in mind as you complete this module that there are are other health issues that interlink several SDGs. Think of your work, does another example apply to you?