Geneva: In a rapidly evolving world, adolescents face significant challenges such as higher mortality rates, mental health, pregnancy, education and employment, and climate and environmental hazards, according to a new WHO report on Tuesday that calls for greater investment in adolescent well-being.
The report, released at the 77th World Health Assembly, was initiated by PMNCH (Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health), and other global agencies such as WHO, UNICEF and UNFPA.
The report states that failure to substantially increase investments aimed at improving adolescents’ well-being will result in staggering economic costs, with estimated global losses of $110 trillion (in forgone benefits) from 2024 to 2050, equivalent to $4.1 trillion per year.
On the other hand, a comprehensive package of health services for adolescents is likely to yield an estimated return of $9.6 per dollar invested. Investing in education and training for adolescents is also likely to yield a return of $28.6 per dollar invested.
“With only five years left to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, progress lagging, and the adolescent population growing, the urgency of investing in adolescent well-being cannot be overstated,” said Helen Clark, former Prime Minister of New Zealand and PMNCH Board Chair. Experts called for scaling up investment programmes to improve adolescent well-being across three key platforms or systems: universal health coverage, including primary care; improved schools that focus on learning, health, nutrition and student well-being; and support systems, including strengthening local community initiatives for adolescent health and well-being.
The five areas critical to adolescent well-being include health and nutrition; connectedness, positive values and contribution to society; safety and supportive environment; learning capacity, education, skills and employability; and agency and resilience.
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2024-05-28 16:05:02