SDG3 Newsletter: A round-up of Springer Nature’s SDG3 working group in 2024

There has been a lot of activity taking place across Springer Nature in 2024 exploring the theme of Good Health and Wellbeing – the third of the United Nation’s Sustainable development goals.
Published in Public Health
SDG3 Newsletter: A round-up of Springer Nature’s SDG3 working group in 2024
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The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were set out by the UN to improve life for humanity and the planet. In 2015 the World Health Organisation outlined specific SDG targets to be achieved by governments and organisations globally by 2030. Springer Nature has an SDG3 Good Health and Wellbeing working group comprised of colleagues from across the business. Within this group are project groups with specific remits for helping raise awareness of SDG3 research and researchers and to promote SDG3 goals and targets.
United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals shown on a PinwheelThis first newsletter highlights the efforts of Springer Nature colleagues, external editors and authors who have given their time to support our SDG 3 activities. Whether you are a researcher whose expertise relates to the SDG3 targets or a colleague, read on to learn about our initiatives and how you can get involved.  

Exploring equal access in healthcare systems (target 3.8) 

In March Monica Wang at Nature Reviews Nephrology hosted a webinar exploring acute kidney injury management. Speakers Leo Celi and Kianoush Kashani discussed artificial intelligence and the need for equity-focused innovation when building digital healthcare systems.  

Watch the recording here. 

Marking infectious disease awareness days (target 3.3) 

A key focus of good health and wellbeing for all is tackling infectious diseases, including HIV and Hepatitis. For World Hepatitis day in July I brought together a collection of hepatitis-related content where authors and editors discussed their approaches to hepatitis research and advancements in the field. I wrote a blog which considered whether the recent UK Infected Blood Scandal might increase public awareness of hepatitis. 

Find out more about hepatitis research 

For World AIDs day, Sophie Gray shared a blog on the medical and social history of the AIDS epidemic – from the first case report in 1980, the breakthrough drugs PrEP and PEP, and recent research that offers hope of ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030. he blog focuses on the lasting impact that AIDS has had on the LGBTQ+ community, highlighting the need to combat AIDS-related homophobia and stigma to ensure that all groups have equal access to sexual health services 

Read the blog 

Stigma and substance use (target 3.5) 

Stigma has been a prevalent topic discussed this year in blogs by researchers and colleagues working across a variety of fields and disciplines. Louis Gautier writes on the theme of target 3.5, substance use, in the context of having attended the International Society for Addiction Journal Editors conference and the Libson Addictions 2024 conference in October. Louis highlights a key discussion at these conferences: the importance of reducing the stigma experienced by substance users. Stigma can prevent people from seeking or receiving treatment for substance abuse, hence acting as a barrier to target 3.7: equal access to healthcare services.  

Learn key messages from recent addiction research conferences. 

Read other blogs on stigma by researchers Beth Meyerson, Lars Eriksson and Ewa Gruszczyńska. 

Promoting good mental health and wellbeing 

Target 3.4 addresses the reduction of premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and the promotion of mental health and well-being. On September 10th, Springer Nature supported World Suicide Prevention Day with a curated webpage of content on suicide prevention, stigma reduction, and mental health support. Eleana Pegg wrote a blog outlining the importance of raising awareness, promoting mental health initiatives and encouraging the creation of national suicide prevention strategies globally.  

Read the blog 

India Sapsed-Foster organised a Q&A with Natalie Smith, a Springer Nature Black Employee Network leader and a Well-being champion. Natalie discusses mental health in the Black community, sharing insights into her own experiences. Natalie emphasises the importance of mental health education for Black youth and offers practical steps to help people improve their wellbeing. 

Read the Q&A 

One Health 

Freyja Austin’s blog about One Health Day offers a broader lens on health and SDG3. The blog highlights the interconnected nature of human and animal health and ecosystems. One Health approaches can help us to achieve SDG target 3.3 which aims to end epidemics of malaria, tropical diseases and water borne diseases, and could improve responses to global health threats particularly in LMICs, which is target 3.d. Freyja focuses on zoonotic diseases, the impact of climate and anthropological changes on the spread of diseases, and pandemic preparedness and response. Freyja’s blog is particularly topical given recent outbreaks including Covid-19, H5N1 and mpox. 

Read the blog 

Lisa Hodgkinson’s blog for World Antibiotics Awareness Week also advocates for a One Health approach to tackle antimicrobial resistance. Antimicrobial resistance is a socio-economic issue that has implications for human and animal health, food production, and the environment. There are several ongoing clinical trials published in the ISRCTN registry that are currently recruiting, which aim to improve antibiotic use and combat resistance. 

Explore clinical trials published in the ISRCTN registry 

SDG 3 – related books and journals  

If you would like to learn more about infectious diseases and emergency preparedness, targets 3.3 and 3.d, read Virginia Mercer’s discussion of Fingani Mphande’s new book, Sustainable Health in Low- and Middle-Income Countries. Mphande digs into the lessons learnt from the Covid-19 pandemic as a means to establish greater stability in LMICs. Virginia highlights that the likelihood of more global pandemics is high, and Mphande puts forward a strong case for how collaboration between High-income countries and LMICs will ensure sustainability for LMICs. Collaboration would improve equitable access to healthcare services including vaccinations worldwide (target 3.8, 3.b and 3.d). 

Read the blog 

Over the year we have drawn attention to journals that advocate for the SDG3 targets. Tamara May’s recent journal highlight discusses some of the diverse research published by Reproductive Health. This international, open-access BioMedCentral journal promotes research focusing on reducing maternal mortality (target 3.1) and improving access to sexual and reproductive health services (target 3.7). Despite progress, challenges remain to achieving the targets, particularly in LMICs. Editors-in-Chief Sanni Yaya and Bright Ahinkorah explain that "by promoting research that addresses inequalities and improves health outcomes, Reproductive Health contributes meaningfully toward achieving SDG3 and fostering a healthier, more equitable future."  

Read about the journal 

Editors and authors: thank you 

We work closely with authors and editors during SDG3 campaigns. Their support has been integral to our initiatives for World Cancer Day, Rare Disease Day, World Health Day, World Refugee Day, World Microbiome Day, World Breastfeeding Week, World Contraception Day, World Hepatitis Day, World Thrombosis Day, One Health Day, World Antibiotic Awareness Week, World Suicide Prevention Day, World AIDS Day, World International Migrants Week and Universal Health Coverage Day. Thank you to researchers who have written blogs, contributed to interviews, and spoken in webinars, offering insights into how their research relates to SDG3. We will continue this collaborative approach between Springer Nature and researchers in support of SDG3 into 2025. 

Next year’s activities 

Register for our webinar on ‘Implementation of Evidence-Based Practices for Improving Maternal and Neonatal Health on March 19th. The event is publicly available on our SDG talks channel 

Sign up to the webinar here.

We are also planning blog campaigns for Rare Disease Day and World Cancer Day. Contact us by 13th January to be involved. 

Get involved! 

If you are a researcher or colleague who would like to be involved with our SDG3 initiatives, get in touch. 

Once again, a huge thank you to our SDG3 group members and leaders for their efforts throughout the year. To be notified of future SDG3 newsletters, follow me (Alice Coe) on Research Communities. 

Some other blogs you might find interesting: 

Women’s and Reproductive Health (SDG target 3.1) 

  • Read Prof Lisa Amir’s call to action for World Breastfeeding Week 
  • Read this Q&A with Dr Orsolya Varga for International Women’s Day 

Hepatitis, HIV and AIDS (SDG target 3.3) 

  • See Trenton White’s video and blog on prioritising liver health for people living with HIV 

One Health (SDG targets 3.3, 3.9, 3.d) 

  • Read Julia Linares-Roake's discussion of One Health  

Universal Health Coverage (SDG target 3.8) 

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