Global Goal 3 on Good Health & Well Being, Using Big Data for Future Smart Cities of Libya

Abstract

This paper examines access to Global Goal 3 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—ensuring good health and well-being—as both a fundamental human right and the foundation of human prosperity, particularly in the context of future smart cities in Libya. The objective is to promote healthy lives and well-being for all at all ages, a prerequisite for sustainable development. After presenting key facts, figures, and targets for 2030, the paper outlines the scope of Goal 3, which addresses global health challenges such as increasing life expectancy, reducing infant mortality, and ending epidemics including HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, and other communicable diseases. Despite progress, the global picture remains uneven: more than 1.3 billion people lack access to effective and affordable health care, 93 percent of whom live in low- and middle-income countries—including Libya. These countries account for only 18 percent of global income yet represent just 11 percent of total health expenditure, highlighting a stark imbalance. Maternal mortality rates remain 14 times higher in developing countries than in developed ones, and only half of women in these regions receive the recommended health care during pregnancy. According to the UN, over 16,000 children under the age of five die daily from malnutrition, dehydration, and preventable diseases. Although the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) of 2000 brought significant progress, major hurdles remain, particularly for women and children in vulnerable regions. Sustainable progress requires universal, affordable health systems supported by strong vaccination programs, equal access to sexual and reproductive health services, and widespread health education.
This paper further examines how global health threats were being addressed in 2018 through preparedness, prevention, and rapid response, under the WHO’s “No Regrets” policy for health emergencies. It highlights how outbreaks may be inevitable, but epidemics are preventable, provided that governments and communities can keep pace with increasing social, economic, and environmental complexity. In Libya, particular attention is given to the health of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and migrants. As more than half of the world’s population now resides in cities, the paper emphasizes urban health governance to address non-communicable diseases, emerging pathogens, and the human impact of natural disasters.
The study explores key components of healthy development—including the role of big data, ICT, and infographics in health services; the introduction of SMART healthcare insurance cards; the WHOQOL-BREF mental health program; specialized clinics for Tawerghan IDPs and migrants; and access to safe water and sanitation. Case studies are presented showing the feasibility of powering large hospitals and research centers with solar energy, thereby supporting universal health coverage and advancing medical research.
The paper also discusses the establishment of an autonomous National Committee for Health Sector Reform (NCHSR), emerging from the Libya Health System Strengthening Programme (LHSS) initiated with EU support, to conduct a root-level reform of Libya’s health sector. Finally, it offers recommendations aimed at ensuring that suffering belongs to no one, guided by the principles of the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path, as part of a vision for a shared and interdependent planet, promoting health, well-being, peace, progress, and prosperity.