SDG 3 Good Health and Well-Being

by Tale Weavers &
The Red Elephant Foundation

On 1 January 2016, the 17 Sustainable TALE
Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030
Agenda for Sustainable Development, weavers
adopted by world leaders in September
2015 at an historic UN Summit, weaving tales, breaking stereotypes
officially came into force.

Over the next fifteen years, with these
new Goals that universally apply to all,
countries will mobilize efforts to end all
forms of poverty, fight inequalities and
tackle climate change, while ensuring
that no one is left behind.

Stories for Awareness is a collaboration
between The Red Elephant Foundation
and Tale Weavers to engage with
children and build awareness around the
17 Sustainable Development Goals.

This story throws light on SDG 3:
Good Health and Well-Being.

Story: Nanditha
Ravindar

Illustrations: Raghu
Ramachandran

It was Friday night.

When everyone else was happy and relaxed that the
weekend was round the corner, Sophia was softly
sobbing in her room.
Just then, her mother Jessica entered the room. “Does it
still hurt, darling?” she asked. Sophia nodded.
She had got a hepatitis vaccine half an hour back.





“Mommy, why did you take me to the doctor? She

uses syringes which hurt me. I don’t like it!” wailed
Sophia.
Her mother looked at her and said “But that is what
keeps you healthy. It protects you and prevents you
from falling sick in the future.”

“Is that why daddy gives money for medicines and

other things even for the people who work for him?”
asked Sophia.
Jessica smiled at her. “Yes, it is very important for
people to be healthy. And when someone cannot afford
to buy medicines or other things for them to get better,
we can help them if we can.
Think of it this way. Daddy needs those people to help
him with his work. If they are not well or if they keep
falling sick often, they will not be able to work.
So in a way, daddy is not only helping them but helping
himself as well,” Sophia’s mother replied.

“Oh! I never thought of

it that way,” Sophia was
surprised. “But daddy helps
only a few people. Who
takes care of other people
like that?” Sophia’s curiosity
grew.
“That’s a good question,
Sophia. The governments of
different countries try to take
care of their citizens as much
as they can. Apart from them,
other private companies also
do their part to take care of
people’s health.”



“It is important to understand that clean water,

nutritious food, access to medical resources, a healthy
lifestyle and a good immunity system to overcome
diseases are very important for people to be fit.

Just like how daddy and I go to office and earn money
to provide for you and your sister, all of us as citizens
contribute to our country’s growth as a whole.

Only if the people are healthy will they be able to work
and be productive. So it is in fact important for any
country to have healthy citizens.

During times of an epidemic, the government’s
responsibility towards taking care of its people
doubles,” Jessica said.

“Epidemic? I have never heard that word before.

What does it mean?” Sophia asked.

“Epidemic is when a
disease spreads wide and
affects a large number of
people in a particular place
or community.

Since it
spreads easily
and quickly,
they are very
harmful.”

“That’s scary!” said Sophia, looking genuinely

frightened. Jessica nodded, and said, “It is, but there
are doctors, health workers and care givers who come
together to help people during an epidemic.

Sophia, do you
remember watching
an advertisement on
television two years
ago, where Amitabh
Bachchan said two-
drops-can-save-a-
life?”



Sophia nodded.

Jessica continued, “That was to prevent polio. And
guess what? By giving children vaccines for polio,
India has eradicated the disease!”

There was a huge campaign conducted to create
awareness about it; people were encouraged to take
vaccines and then finally in 2014, India was officially
declared a polio-free country!”

Sophia seemed impressed.

She understood that if people get together, they could
improve the public health of a nation’s citizens. She
also realized how important it was to take care of
oneself.

“From here on, I will not refuse to go to the doctor
whenever you or daddy take me. I know how important
my health is and I will take care of myself”, Sophia
declared.

The End



Tale Weavers is an initiative that

aims to engage with children and the
youth through stories that challenge
stereotypes and break the barriers in
creating a just society.
​
We welcome you to our world of stories
where simple conversations, colorful
illustrations, and powerful characters
help break the stereotypes and create
an inclusive learning space which is
free of bias - be it gender, religion, race,
nationality or ethnicity.

The Red Elephant Foundation is an

initiative that is built on the foundations
of story-telling, civilian peacebuilding
and activism for sensitisation on
all drivers of peace - gender, race,
nationality, colour and orientation.

The initiative is titled “Red Elephant”
to stand out as a vehicle that projects
stories that must never be forgotten:
stories that show you such courage that
you should never forget, and stories that
show the world such profound lessons
that the world should never forget. In
doing so, the initiative aims at creating
awareness and opening up channels
of communication towards creating
societies of tolerance, peacebuilding
and equality.