Building on the Millennium Development Goals, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), agreed by 193 countries in 2015, are a 17-Goal plan to end poverty, combat climate change and fight injustice and inequality. Ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all people at all ages (Goal 3) is essential to sustainable development. Significant strides have been made across the Europe and Central Asia region to increase life expectancy and reduce some of the common factors associated with child and maternal mortality. The world has made substantial progress in reducing (by half) child mortality over the past few decades - thanks to better nutrition, health care, and standards of living.
