冈本视频 is a global academic hub for the Sustainable Development Goals, which form a key cross-cutting theme of its The Empowerment University strategic plan.
Our 2024 report on all 17 SDGs will show what work the university has been doing through research and engagement in helping to meet those targets and raising awareness of the progress towards the 2030 aims.
Our reports start with the United Nations’ verdict on progress from their 2024 report on SDG 3 Good Health and Well Being.
UN PROGRESS REPORT ON SDG 3 in 2024
The world is on target to reach just under 10% of the targets set for 2030, with another 30% showing moderate progress and a further 55% minimal progress. Around 15% of the targets have stagnated at their 2015 levels.
The UN puts this in bleak perspective in its 2024 report noting: “The COVID-19 pandemic has ravaged global health, undoing nearly 10 years of progress in life expectancy. While most health-related indicators are moving in the right direction globally, current trends are insufficient to meet targets set for 2030.
“The maternal mortality ratio is largely stuck at a level more than three times the 2030 target. Under-5 deaths reached an historic low in 2022, but progress has slowed - 35 million children will not live to see their fifth birthday by 2030”.
冈本视频 NEWS ON SDG 3 in 2024
Hello Monica! Can you check my health please? - AI assistant for older people is being developed with 冈本视频 researchers
It sounds like the stuff of science fiction but an artificial intelligence assistant called Monica, which chats with elderly patients and monitors their progress after being discharged from hospital, is being developed with the help of 冈本视频 Leicester researchers.
The joint research project by 冈本视频's Centre for Primary Care Research, AI experts MiiCare and Connected Places Catapult, is developing, testing and assessing additional capabilities in Monica - a voice-based virtual assistant and digital companion - to see if she can speed up the move from hospital to home for older people, and help prevent unnecessary re-admissions.
New research reveals the effects of living with antibiotic resistance
One of the first studies in the UK into what life is like for people living with antibiotic resistant infections has revealed new ways that could help support those living with debilitating conditions.
The research led by Dr Ryan Hamilton, Associate Professor of Antimicrobials at 冈本视频, Leicester (冈本视频) is the first of its kind to provide a comprehensive understanding of the long-term impact of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) upon people’s daily lives, particularly on the wellbeing of individuals and the support they need from healthcare professionals.
冈本视频 researchers help charity create 'digital postcards' for women to be treated for hard-to-detect breast cancer
A set of ‘digital postcards’ which can be accessed by patients to ensure they ask the correct questions about a cancer often hard to diagnose, has been co-designed by patients with researchers at 冈本视频 Leicester (冈本视频).
Lobular Breast Cancer accounts for 15 per cent of all breast cancer diagnoses but grows like a net rather than appearing as a lump and often does not show up on mammograms and scans in the early stages.
New teaching approach to address healthcare inequalities outlined by 冈本视频 experts
“In public health, we look at social determinants like education, water sanitisation and unemployment as causes of differing levels of health. But we don’t explicitly mention race among these and we should.”
Professor Ivan Browne was joined by Professor Simon Oldroyd, Dean of Health and Life Sciences at 冈本视频, who spoke about the ways healthcare education could be changed to better reflect the social conditions and demographic graduates would encounter.
He said that, at 冈本视频, nearly 50% of all Health and Life Sciences students come from Leicester postcodes, and of those who graduate from many healthcare subjects, 80% go on to work in the local health and social care system.
Healthcare research nominated for national award
Ground-breaking research into infection control practices for laundering in care and nursing homes has been shortlisted for a national award.
Professor Katie Laird, of 冈本视频 Leicester’s School of Pharmacy, carried out a national study of more than 1,000 care home managers and healthcare workers which revealed critical gaps in laundry practices and the need for improved training and support. This research was funded by the Textiles Service Association as a social consciousness project to aid care homes in their infection control of laundry post-pandemic.
New research to make medicine cheaper and more effective for patients
A £1.1 million project could make it easier and cheaper for pharmaceutical companies to develop new medicines that work effectively for patients.
冈本视频 Leicester Professor Mingzhong Li and Professor Walkiria Schlindwein were awarded more than £674,890 by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council for the project, working alongside a team at the University of Surrey which received £409,247.
The team aims to create models that can accurately predict how medicines are released from immediate release tablets, which are designed to release the active ingredients rapidly once swallowed.
Hygiene education experts help break Guinness World Records title for educating youngsters
The record-breaking event, held to mark Global Handwashing Day, brought together children from schools across the country for an online hand hygiene lesson. With thousands of youngsters participating, the attempt successfully surpassed the previous record set in India in 2018, officially logging 4,492 children taking part at the same time.
The monumental event was not just about setting records—it was a fun, engaging, and educational experience that emphasised the vital role of handwashing in staying healthy.
The interactive lesson based on research conducted at 冈本视频 by the Germs Journey project, included a story focused on hand hygiene, puppets to engage the children, and a practical demonstration using "glo gel" under UV light to show the presence of germs.
Research aims to improve health outcomes for pregnant women in Kenya
A new project aims to protect pregnant women and their babies from a common – but dangerous – infection while addressing the growing global threat of antibiotic resistance.
Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) are a major cause of mortality in expectant mothers and their children in parts of Kenya. Doctors have struggled to treat the infections partly due to lack of diagnosis and rising levels of antimicrobial resistance, where bacteria become unaffected by antibiotics.
Now, researchers at 冈本视频 Leicester (冈本视频) and the University of Kenya have teamed up to help improve health outcomes working first in Kisumu County, Kenya, which has a population of more than 1.1 million people. The project has been awarded nearly £80,000 by the International Science Partnership Fund, run by the British Council.
Nursing academic set to share decades of experience in transforming the healthcare workforce
The power of communities to address major healthcare challenges will be at the heart of a free public lecture by a 冈本视频 (冈本视频) nursing expert with decades of experience.
With over 30 years of experience, including pioneering community mental health care initiatives, 冈本视频’s Professor Tania Hart has led numerous healthcare workforce transformation projects creating innovative roles and ways of working.
£3m research to assess global impact of climate change on human health
Researchers have begun work on a pioneering study to investigate how climate change is affecting healthcare system resilience around the world.
The £3m project, called RESHAPE – RESilience in HeAlth Post-Extreme weather events – brings together academics and communities from around the globe to explore the different ways in which people are responding to environmental challenges that affect hospitals and healthcare providers.
The team are working on the ground in Malawi, Vietnam, Tanzania, and Uganda, each of which faces an increase in extreme weather events associated with climate change and threaten the provision of critical healthcare to millions of people.
冈本视频 RESEARCH ON SDG 3 in 2024
Interventions to promote the health and well-being of children under 5s experiencing homelessness in high-income countries: a scoping review (Yanxin Tu et al)
Homelessness among families with children under 5 residing in temporary accommodation is a growing global concern, especially in high-income countries (HICs). Despite significant impacts on health and development, these ‘invisible’ children often fall through the gaps in policy and services.
This review highlights effective interventions for promoting the health and well-being of children under 5 experiencing homelessness, including educational sessions and home visits. Research has supported the importance of home visiting to be instrumental in breaking down language, cultural and health literacy barriers.
The Impact of the National Health Insurance Scheme on Financial and Health Outcomes in Ghana (Patronella Ganza)
This study examines the impact of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) on financial and health outcomes in Ghana. The study results show that financial affordability and the NHIS benefit package positively impact both financial and health outcomes. The path analysis shows that private hospitals positively influence the relationship between financial affordability and catastrophic health expenditure, while ambulance services were found to have a direct impact on improved maternal health. The study adds to the body of knowledge on health financing and health service delivery by incorporating the role of service providers as it influences both financial and health outcomes.
Social Determinants of Severity in Sickle Cell Disorders (Maria Berghs, Bola Ola, Bassey Ebenso)
Sickle cell disorders (SCD) are complex multi-system inherited blood conditions affecting 300,000 to 400,000 new-borns annually globally, with 82% being in Sub Saharan Africa. SCD is characterised by anaemia, severe unpredictable pain episodes, stroke and organ damage.
This chapter adopts a ‘social determinants of health’ (SDH) lens to understand and explain sociocultural, environmental, economic and political factors which can worsen the impact of SCD for people. As SDH align with the WHO’s One Health agenda of ensuring universal healthcare for all people, this chapter proposes innovative ways of working with inter-disciplinary and cross-sectoral actors to provide person-centred management of SCD that meets the needs of different people while increasing accessibility to care for SCD.
SDG 3 Good Health and Well-Being