In yet another sign that the new government intends to profoundly change Brazil’s image in international relations, the Minister of Health, Nísia Trindade, stated that the management of President Lula (PT) will have as its central axis the focus on the Sustainable Development Goals ( SDGs), established by the United Nations (UN).
She participated in the opening of the 6th Global Conference on Sustainable Technology and Innovation (G-Stic), a global event that will take place in Rio de Janeiro until the 15th. implementation of the so-called Agenda 2030.
“An effort is fundamental for us to advance in the understanding that innovation needs to be at the service of all. We will need to make the value of equity also occur in the field of science, technology and innovation, so that this innovation is effectively at the service of more equitable health systems”, said Nísia Trindade in a speech.
The minister recalled that at least half of humanity does not have access to essential health services. The lack of sanitation affects 2.4 billion people, almost 700 million do not have access to clean water and about 840 million live without electricity.
Overcoming the covid-19 pandemic with guarantees of sustainability and equity for the future is the central theme of the conference this year. Nísia Trindade stressed that the health emergency exacerbated violence and inequality.
“We must point out that human rights are infringed on all continents and countries. These are clear signs that it is not possible to achieve the SDGs with the usual procedures and approaches. We urgently need to implement technological solutions and innovations in a broad sense, integrated at scale and guided by a systemic vision and the assumptions of equity and social justice.”
Covid-19 has increased poverty, hunger and inequality; ‘Generational catastrophe’, says United Nations
The director general of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, also participated in the first day of the conference and emphasized the importance of nations working together to achieve sustainability goals. He spoke directly from Syria, where he visited areas heavily hit by an earthquake last week.
According to Adhanon, the tragedy, like the covid-19 pandemic, is a reminder that nations need to strengthen their defenses against emergencies of all kinds and build health systems capable of facing challenges.
“The COVID-19 pandemic was not just a health crisis: it caused an economic crisis, a social crisis, and even a political crisis. It shows that when health is at risk, everything is at risk.”
He also said that the post-pandemic planet faces a setback of more than four years in eradicating poverty, interruption of health systems, a drop in vaccination against various diseases and access to education.
The search for solutions in technology and innovation for all these issues will be part of the debates at G-Sic in the coming days. With the participation of specialists, authorities and representatives of the economic sector, the meeting will also have tables on bioeconomy, biodiversity, urban development, preservation and international partnerships to fulfill the SDGs.
Bolsonaro’s legacy
A study released last year pointed out that the four years of Jair Bolsonaro’s (PL) term as president of the republic distanced Brazil from meeting the Sustainable Development Goals. The assessment is from the Luz Report, produced by more than 60 civil society organizations.
According to the survey, which outlines an overview of the implementation of the goals, only 0.59% of the 168 points analyzed show satisfactory progress. Another 14.28% have progress considered insufficient. The vast majority, however – more than 80% of the agreed commitments – are in retreat, under threat or stagnant.
The current document shows that backward targets have increased, compared to the latest data for 2021, from 92 to 103. Insufficient progress, which had been observed in 13 objectives, now reaches 23 of them.
In four years of Bolsonaro, the health area lost money, quality and capillarity
In addition to being late in meeting the SDGs, Brazil fails to provide information on the progress of some sectors. The Report did not obtain Brazilian data on 4.76% of the evaluated targets.
Editing: Rodrigo Durão Coelho
