&w=3840&q=100)
Child deaths down, vaccinations up-but India's health fight isn't over
What the UN Human Development Report says about India's health progress
According to the UNDP Human Development Report 2025, India's Human Development Index (HDI) has increased by over 53 per cent since 1990—outpacing both global and South Asian averages. This has been driven by robust economic growth and welfare schemes like the National Rural Health Mission and Ayushman Bharat.
Life expectancy has climbed to 72 years in 2023, the highest since the index began. 'India's life expectancy reaching its highest level is a testament to the country's recovery from the pandemic and its investments in human development,' said Angela Lusigi, Resident Representative, UNDP India.
SDG 3 score rises sharply, says NITI Aayog
India's SDG 3 score rose from 52 in 2018 to 77 in 2023, as per the NITI Aayog SDG Index. Multiple states are now classified as 'front-runners' in health outcomes:
Maternal mortality dropped to 97 per 100,000 live births. Eight states, including Kerala and Tamil Nadu, have met the 2030 target of 70.
Under-5 mortality fell to 32 per 1,000 live births. Kerala leads with just 8 deaths.
Child immunisation (age 9–11 months) reached 93.23%, with several states surpassing 100%.
HIV incidence remained at 0.05 per 1,000 uninfected individuals; Kerala reported 0.01.
Tuberculosis case notification hit 87.13 per cent; Gujarat and UTs like Delhi surpassed national targets.
Institutional deliveries stood at 97.18 per cent, with Lakshadweep achieving 100 per cent.
Suicide rate was 12 per 100,000 population in 2022. Bihar had the lowest at 1.
Malnutrition still affects children and women
Despite gains, India still faces serious challenges:
35 per cent of children under five are stunted
19 per cent are wasted
67 per cent of under-five children and 57 per cent of women (15–49) are anaemic
These figures from NFHS (2019–21) point to deep-rooted nutritional deficiencies that threaten long-term health outcomes.
India's NCD burden rising fast
Non-communicable diseases like diabetes, hypertension, and cancer accounted for over 60 per cent of all deaths in India in 2019, according to the NCD portal. Experts warn that without targeted prevention and early detection, the NCD crisis could derail SDG progress.
What India must do to stay on track for 2030
To meet SDG 3 goals, experts recommend an integrated strategy that:
Expands last-mile healthcare delivery
Scales up NCD screening and treatment
Closes the nutrition gap in children and women
Invests in mental health and injury care
Increases funding for primary healthcare
As the 2030 deadline approaches, bridging rural–urban divides and ensuring healthcare equity will be crucial to India's success in achieving SDG 3.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
11 hours ago
- Indian Express
Israeli fire again kills Gaza aid-seekers as US envoy meets with hostages' families
Israeli forces opened fire near two aid distribution sites run by the Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation as crowds of hungry Palestinians again sought food, killing at least 10 people, witnesses and health workers said Saturday. The violence came a day after US officials visited a GHF site and the US ambassador called the troubled system 'an incredible feat.' Another 19 people were shot dead as they crowded near the Zikim crossing from Israel in the hope of obtaining aid, said Fares Awad, head of the Gaza health ministry's ambulance and emergency service. Nearly a week has passed since Israel, under international pressure amid growing scenes of starving children, announced limited humanitarian pauses and airdrops meant to get more food to Gaza's over 2 million people. They now largely rely on aid after almost 22 months of war. But the United Nations, partners and Palestinians say far too little aid is coming in, with months of supplies piled up outside Gaza waiting for Israeli approval. Trucks that enter are mostly stripped of supplies by desperate people and criminal groups before reaching warehouses for distribution. Experts this week said a 'worst-case scenario of famine' was occurring. On Saturday, Gaza's health ministry said seven Palestinians had died of malnutrition-related causes over the past 24 hours, including a child. Aid is 'far from sufficient,' Germany's government said via spokesman Stefan Kornelius. The UN has said 500 to 600 trucks of aid are needed daily. Families of the 50 hostages still in Gaza fear they are going hungry too, and blame Hamas, after the militants released images of an emaciated hostage, Evyatar David. Near the northernmost GHF distribution site near the Netzarim corridor, Yahia Youssef, who had come to seek aid, described a grimly familiar scene. After helping carry three people wounded by gunshots, he said he saw others on the ground, bleeding. 'It's the same daily episode,' Youssef said. Health workers said at least eight people were killed. Israel's military said it fired warning shots at a gathering approaching its forces. At least two people were killed in the Shakoush area hundreds of metres (yards) from where the GHF operates in the southernmost city of Rafah, witnesses said. Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis received two bodies and many injured. Witness Mohamed Abu Taha said Israeli troops opened fire toward the crowds. He saw three people — two men and a woman — shot as he fled. Israel's military said it was not aware of any fire by its forces in the area. The GHF said nothing happened near its sites. GHF says its armed contractors have only used pepper spray or fired warning shots to prevent deadly crowding. Israel's military on Friday said it was working to make the routes under its control safer. The GHF — backed by millions of dollars in US support — launched in May as Israel sought an alternative to the UN-run system, which had safely delivered aid for much of the war but was accused by Israel of allowing Hamas to siphon off supplies. Israel has not offered evidence for that claim and the UN has denied it. From May 27 to July 31, 859 people were killed near GHF sites, according to a UN report Thursday. Hundreds more have been killed along the routes of UN-led food convoys. Hamas-led police once guarded those convoys, but Israeli fire targeted the officers. Israel and GHF have claimed the toll has been exaggerated. Airdrops by a Jordan-led coalition — Israel, the UAE, Egypt, France, and Germany — are another approach, though experts say the strategy remains deeply inadequate and even dangerous for people on the ground. 'Let's go back to what works & let us do our job,' Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, wrote on social media, calling for more and safer truck deliveries. Nasser Hospital said it received five bodies after two Israeli strikes on tents sheltering displaced people in Gaza's south. The health ministry's ambulance and emergency service said a strike hit a house between the towns of Zawaida and Deir al-Balah, killing two parents and their three children. Another strike hit a tent in Khan Younis, killing a mother and her daughter. Israel's top general Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir warned that 'combat will continue without rest' if hostages aren't freed. Hostage families push Israel to cut deal US President Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, met with hostages' families Saturday, a week after quitting ceasefire talks, blaming Hamas' intransigence. 'I didn't hear anything new from him. I heard that there was pressure from the Americans to end this operation, but we didn't hear anything practical,' said Michel Illouz, father of Israeli hostage Guy Illouz. He said he asked Witkoff to set a time frame but got 'no answers.' Protesters called on Israel's government to make a deal to end the war, imploring them to 'stop this nightmare and bring them out of the tunnels.' In part of Gaza City, displaced people who managed to return home found rubble-strewn neighbourhoods. Most Palestinians in Gaza are crowded into ever-shrinking areas considered safe. 'I don't know what to do. Destruction, destruction,' said Mohamed Qeiqa, who stood amid collapsed concrete slabs and pointed out a former five-story building. 'Where will people settle?' The war began when Hamas attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people, mostly civilians. Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed more than 60,400 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which doesn't distinguish between militants and civilians but says women and children make up over half the dead. The ministry operates under the Hamas government. The UN and other international organizations see it as the most reliable source of data on casualties. The ministry says 93 children have died from malnutrition-related causes in Gaza since the war began. It said 76 adults have died of malnutrition-related causes since late June, when it started counting adult deaths.
News18
3 days ago
- News18
UN Says Gaza Now The 'Hungriest Place On Earth'. So Why Isn't Famine Declared Yet?
The Gaza Health Ministry says at least 89 children and 65 adults have died of malnutrition-related causes since the war began, with most deaths occurring in the last two months The Gaza Strip has become what United Nations officials now describe as the 'hungriest place on Earth", with its 2.3 million residents facing acute food shortages and the very real threat of famine. With aid convoys under attack, civilians dying in line for food, and starvation claiming dozens of lives each week, Gaza's humanitarian collapse has reached a critical juncture. On Wednesday, July 30, at least 48 Palestinians were killed and dozens more injured as they waited for food near the Zikim Crossing, Gaza's main entry point for humanitarian supplies. It remains unclear who opened fire. The Israeli military, which controls the crossing, has not commented. Shifa Hospital in Gaza City reported receiving many of the wounded, while Al-Saraya Field Hospital confirmed over 100 dead and injured. The chaos unfolded as US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in Israel for urgent talks. The US is under mounting pressure to do more to alleviate suffering in the coastal enclave, where Israel's military campaign and blockade, triggered by Hamas' October 7 attack, have created what food crisis monitors call a 'worst-case scenario of famine". 'I have no flour, no oil, no sugar, no food," a Palestinian man told Al Jazeera, adding that he collects moldy bread and feeds it to his children. 'I want to bring a packet of flour for my children. I want to eat. I am hungry," he added. The United Nations World Food Program says one-third of Gaza's population is surviving without consistent access to food, while the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), the world's leading body for classifying food crises, has warned of 'widespread death" if conditions persist. Still, a formal famine declaration has not yet been issued. What Constitutes A Famine? According to the IPC's classification system, famine (the highest level of crisis on its five-tier scale) is declared only when three conditions are met: at least 20% of households face extreme food shortages, 30% of children under five are suffering from acute malnutrition, and more than two people per 10,000 are dying each day from starvation-related causes. While Gaza has not officially met all three criteria, UN agencies warn that the thresholds are close. Recent IPC data from May estimates that nearly every person in Gaza falls under IPC Phase 3 (Crisis) or worse. Around 4,70,000 people, 22% of Gaza's population, are already in IPC Phase 5 (Catastrophe). Over 1 million are in Phase 4 (Emergency). The remainder is in Phase 3. From April 2025 to March 2026, the IPC projects that 71,000 children under five will face acute malnutrition in Gaza. Of these, 14,100 are likely to develop severe complications. Some 17,000 pregnant and lactating women will also require urgent nutrition treatment. Aid Arriving, But Not Enough Despite Israeli pledges to ease restrictions, aid agencies say the flow of humanitarian assistance remains deeply inadequate. Israel said last week that around 4,500 aid trucks have entered Gaza since May, bringing in items including 2,500 tons of baby formula and high-calorie food. But the UN says 500 to 600 trucks are needed daily to meet basic needs, levels last seen during a brief ceasefire in early 2024. On Tuesday, only 220 trucks crossed into Gaza, according to COGAT, the Israeli military agency overseeing aid logistics. Crowds, often desperate and chaotic, continue to swarm distribution sites. More than 1,000 Palestinians have reportedly been killed while trying to access aid since May, according to local health officials, UN monitors, and eyewitnesses. The violence is most intense near food distribution points operated by the Israeli-American backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). Human rights organisations, including the UN's OHCHR, have accused Israeli forces and GHF contractors of using excessive force. Israel denies targeting civilians and says its troops only fire warning shots. GHF claims it uses non-lethal methods like pepper spray and warning fire to manage crowds. Starvation Deaths Mounting The Gaza Health Ministry says at least 89 children and 65 adults have died of malnutrition-related causes since the war began, with most deaths occurring in the last two months. On Wednesday alone, seven Palestinians, including a child, died of hunger. Aid drops from international forces continue, but many food packages land in restricted zones or the sea, forcing civilians to wade through rubble or swim to retrieve soaked supplies. Israel continues to reject claims that starvation is taking place, accusing international organisations of exaggerating the crisis and detracting from ceasefire negotiations. Israeli officials insist the focus should be on Hamas, which launched the war on October 7, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. Approximately 50 remain captive, including about 20 believed to be alive. Since then, more than 60,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli military operations, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The toll includes both civilians and combatants, though the ministry, operating under the Hamas-run government, does not differentiate. Calls For Famine Declaration Grow Experts say a formal famine declaration could galvanise the global response, unlocking additional emergency resources and diplomatic interventions. Recent famine declarations include Somalia (2011), South Sudan (2017, 2020), and parts of Sudan's Darfur region in 2024. But declaring famine is a politically sensitive move, one that governments and multilateral institutions often avoid until all conditions are met. Still, the UN has emphasised that Gaza's crisis is one of the worst it has ever encountered, citing the scale of obstacles in delivering aid, the number of aid-seekers being killed, and the growing collapse of public order. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from geopolitics to diplomacy and global trends. Stay informed with the latest world news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : famine gaza israel palestine view comments Location : Palestine First Published: July 31, 2025, 14:20 IST News world UN Says Gaza Now The 'Hungriest Place On Earth'. So Why Isn't Famine Declared Yet? Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
India Today
3 days ago
- India Today
Why eating healthy remains a luxury for billions
Even as forms of extreme deprivation have abated somewhat, a deeper crisis is simmering: healthy, nutritious food remains far too expensive for much of the world's to the United Nations' latest State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2025 report, an estimated 8.2 per cent of the global population—around 673 million people—faced hunger in 2024, down slightly from 8.5 per cent in 2023. Yet, affordability continues to be a major barrier to nutritious 2024, the average cost of a healthy diet rose to USD 4.46 per person per day (PPP), up from USD 4.30 in 2023. This increase, driven by inflation, climate change, and ongoing supply chain disruptions due to geopolitical disturbances, rendered 2.6 billion people unable to afford nutritious meals. India reflects this global trend. The cost of a healthy diet in the country has surged by nearly 47 per cent, from USD 2.77 in 2017 to USD 4.07 in 2024. This steady rise underscores the growing pressure on household food budgets, even as income recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic remains to the challenge is the continued rise in global food prices. The FAO Food Price Index climbed to 128 points in June 2025—28 per cent higher than the 2014–2016 average and 6 per cent higher than in June 2024. While prices have retreated from their peak following the Russia–Ukraine war, they remain elevated and FAO's analysis highlights stark inequalities in food pricing. Starchy staples like rice and maize remain the cheapest sources of calories. In contrast, vegetables are nine times more expensive per calorie. Fruits and animal-source foods cost nearly six times more, while legumes, nuts, and seeds are about 1.8 times ultra-processed foods and confectioneries—considered unhealthy—are much cheaper. These items provide similar energy at a fraction of the cost of staples. Even oils and sweets are more affordable than fresh produce, making them more accessible to low-income households. This pricing imbalance helps explain why unhealthy diets persist, particularly among economically vulnerable populations. This partly explains why junk food is being consumed more widely than hunger, food insecurity—the struggle to consistently access enough nutritious food—is another major concern. In 2024, 2.3 billion people, or nearly 28 per cent of the global population, faced food insecurity. The situation is especially dire in rural areas and disproportionately affects women across all PROGRESS IN INDIAadvertisementIndia has made significant progress in improving access to healthy diets. The number of people unable to afford a nutritious diet fell from 804.9 million in 2017 to 586.5 million in 2024—a decline of over 218 million. This progress stands in contrast to rising figures in many other lower-middle-income some improvements in pockets, the world is moving further away from its 2030 goal of ending hunger. Projections suggest that more than 500 million people will remain undernourished by the end of the decade.- EndsMust Watch
