Politics in the Corridor of Dying: AIDS Activism and Global Health Governance (Book review)

Abstract

In September 2015, the United Nations General Assembly adopted 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for the next 15 years. The SDGs serve as an addendum to the 2000 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), whose targets “ended” this year. Among the SDGs is Goal 3: ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. Under Goal 3 are 13 listed targets, one of which, is Target 3.3: “By 2030, end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases and combat hepatitis, water-borne diseases and other communicable diseases.” Essential to meeting this target, of course, are further targets that must be met, including 3.7: “By 2030, ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services, including for family planning, information and education, and the integration of reproductive health into national strategies and programmes,” and Target 3.8: “Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health-care services and access to safe, effective, quality and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all.” These goals were adopted by all member states in the 70th UN General Assembly, and from now until the early part of 2016, there will be consultations to discuss the development of milestones to measure, inform, and advocate the achievement of all 17 goals with their attached 169 targets.