SDG 3 · Good Health and Well-being

14.3 million children have never had a single vaccine.

Eco Heroes turns that fact into a story an 8-year-old can hold onto: The House of Hope, book 3 of 17 in the SDG Library.

Unlock all 17 books, first month free → Read SDG 1 free

The target, in plain language

What the UN actually promised

Target 3.2

By 2030, end preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age, with all countries aiming to reduce neonatal mortality to at least as low as 12 per 1,000 live births and under-5 mortality to at least as low as 25 per 1,000 live births.

Real progress: under-5 deaths have fallen by 51 per cent since 2000, to 37.4 per 1,000 live births in 2024. The target is 25, so the last stretch is the hardest.

Target 3.8 aims for universal health coverage: quality care, and safe, effective, affordable medicines and vaccines for everyone.

Why it matters

The number behind the story

14.3M

children received no vaccinations at all Up from 12.9 million in 2019. Routine vaccination still hasn't climbed back to pre-pandemic levels.

Source: The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2026, UN DESA. Figures as published in July 2026.

The story

The House of Hope

Written by Ricardo Alcántara (Premio Lazarillo) · Illustrated by Cecilia Varela

Book 3 of 17 in the Eco Heroes SDG Library, one illustrated story for each UN Sustainable Development Goal. Unlocked with any Eco Heroes plan (families from €79 a year), and every plan starts with a free month. Published in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese and Catalan.

Bring it into the room

Talk about it, try it

Discuss

One question to ask after reading

“Who looks after your health without you even noticing? And who looks after theirs?”

Try it: 15 minutes

Draw a health map

Mark the nearest pharmacy, clinic, hospital, drinking-water tap and safe place to play around your home or school. Then talk about how far a child without those nearby would have to travel.

Seventeen goals, seventeen stories

Every SDG gets its own illustrated book, its own facts and its own activities. SDG 1 is always free. The rest unlock with a family, school or hotel plan.

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