The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

This blog aims to inform the public about the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs). The focus is on how these goals, when achieved by member states, can play a positive role in dealing with issues faced by the LGBTQIA2S+ individuals in BC, who may not have the means to access affordable, safe and effective medical services.

Davie Village Wellness Centre supports the UNSDGs and aims to raise awareness and promote the goals within the LGBTQIA2S+ community and Vancouver’s Westend and Yaletown neighbourhoods. 

If you have any questions about the goals or looking for a community partner to help you promote the UNSDGs, contact us at chris@davie-rmt.com.

What are the UNSDG’s?

The video shown below summarizes the UNSDGs and gives a brief description of each goal.

Video elements created by Dan Peter M, hired via Upwork. Script by Chris Motiu

What is The Good Health and Well-Being Goal?

Under the Agenda 2030, the UN has agreed with all member states on a series of goals that will improve people’s lives better while saving the planet. To make people’s lives better, the UN encourages all countries to develop plans that support “good health and well-being,” which is one of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs).

So what is the Good Health and Well Being Goal? According to the UN, the goal aims to “ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages”. To read more click here:  .

Health Concerns for the LGBTQIA2S+ Community in BC

According to the Center for Disease Control (BC-CDC), individuals within The LGBTQIA2S+ face many health and well-being-related issues. Some of these issues are the rampant deterioration in mental, physical and sexual health and increased drug and alcohol abuse, especially in people diagnosed with various sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Find out more here: . 

The following graphs generated with the Pan-Canadian Health Inequalities Data Tool, 2017 Edition, show the rate ratio or risk ratio experienced by LGBTQIA2S+ individuals versus heterosexual individuals in Canada. If the ratio for heterosexual individuals is set to “1” the graphs show that the LGBTQIA2S+ population is exposed to a much higher risk of not securing affordable healthcare services when needed.

In 2019 Canada’s Federal Government conducted a study and identified several areas of concern related to health and wellness inequalities experienced by LGBTQIA2S+ individuals. This initiative ties into and is in response to the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal on Health and Well Being.

The report from the Standing Committee on Health, tabled in The House of Commons, titled The Health of The LGBTQIA2 Communities in Canada discusses and provides recommendations on improving the lives of LGBTQIA2S+ individuals by addressing issues in the following areas:

• Mental Health (anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts)
• Physical Health (cancer and chronic diseases)
• Sexual Health (HIV, AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases)
• Substance Abuse (alcohol, tobacco, narcotics)

Under the Agenda 2030, the UN has agreed with all member states on a series of goals that will improve people’s lives while saving the planet. To achieve these goals, the UN encourages all countries to develop plans that support “good health and well-being,” as mentioned earlier in this blog.

Although the UNSDGs are not legally binding on the member states, the signatory countries are expected to take every possible action to achieve the goals by 2030. Countries such as Canada are expected to play an important role in improving the health and well-being of their citizens, fortifying social justice and democratic rights and freedoms, and protecting the environment.

You may ask yourself if there is anything you can do to help and support the UNSDGs initiatives. The good news is, YOU CAN! Here are some ideas:

• Learn what the UNSDGs can do for you and your community
• Get information from reliable sources and filter our misinformation
• Find groups and organizations that promote the UNSDGs and offer to volunteer
• Speak out when you see inequality or injustice of any kind
• Contact the political representatives in your area and ask them what they do to support the UNSDGs
• Challenge your friends and colleagues to learn about the UNSDGs
• Speak to your instructors, if you are a student, and suggest incorporating UNSDG projects in your course syllabus
• Contact your family physician and see what they do to support The Health and Well Being Goal
• Check with your allied medical practitioners (RMT, Physio, Chiro) and see what they can tell you about the UNSDGs
• Find out if your primary and allied medical practitioners provide a safe space for you to feel comfortable in seeking medical services when needed
• Email us with any questions, concerns or help you may need at chris@davie-rmt.com