'Successful implementation of health goals central to progress'

One of the gaps identified in implementing the goals is a lack of monitoring and mechanisms to measure progress

Only by strengthening institutional networks and capacities would help successfully implement health-related sustainable development goals (SDGs) identified by the United Nations.

This was stated by speakers including experts in the health sector and academia while speaking at a ‘Stakeholders Consultation on Health-related SDGs’, organised by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) on Thursday.

The consultative meeting was also attended by representatives of the relevant government departments, academia, research institutions, think tanks, and non-governmental organisations.

Planning Commission SDGs Unit Project Director Zafarul Islam said that one of the largest gaps they had identified in implementing the goals was a lack of monitoring and mechanisms to measure progress.

He added that the government had now developed networks from the provincial level all the way down to the grassroots level which included the private sector, think tanks and corporate social responsibility organisations as well to make the implementation process inclusive at every level.

Dr Babar Tasneem Shaikh from the health ministry noted that with the health department devolved, the federal government was providing support to the provinces in the form of expertise to achieve set targets.

Earlier, SDPI’s Shafqat Munir said that it was important to build the resilience of communities to achieve the desired health targets identified in the SDGs. This, he said, was key to achieving the remaining goals of the global development agenda.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 14^th, 2017.