- National Program Managers
- Representatives from the Ministries of Health, and Education, from our Member States;
- International and Regional Experts
- Representatives from Adolescent and Youth organizations
- Partners, Colleagues and Friends
Good morning, and welcome to this regional meeting on Adolescent Responsive Health Systems. This is an important topic, and unfortunately one which is often neglected in health and social policies.
Adolescence, from 10 to 19 years of age, is a time of distinctive development - cognitive, social, physical, emotional, and sexual. I will ask us all to think back to our own adolescence. Remember what a time of change, growth and even confusion that it was?
It is evident that adolescents require special attention in national health and development policies, due to their unique needs. We should also not forget that health is a human right - and manifesting that right for adolescents is through health systems that are responsive to them.
Many people transition from childhood to adulthood in good health, but many others face gender specific as well as shared health challenges, with significant yet preventable morbidity and mortality.
Investing in the health and well-being of adolescents offers a ‘triple dividend’ of benefits: immediate, future, and intergenerational. It also contributes to the economic and social development of the country, leaving nations on a better footing for the future.
Our South-East Asia region is home to 29% of the world’s adolescents. No other WHO region has more. Sadly, nearly 670 adolescents die in our region every day. There is a high burden of morbidity due to many causes, ranging from adolescent pregnancy, mental health, nutrition, NCDs, self-harm, and more.
Over the past decade, our region has observed significant political, technical, and programmatic advances to prioritize adolescent health and well-being. This has led to favorable policies, and national programs and strategies on adolescent health, including school health. This has allowed for the delivery of information, education and health services in a friendly manner to adolescents.
However, adolescents still face multiple barriers in accessing health care, and often receive poorer quality care. It is not unusual for them to experience greater humiliation or levels of judgement, disrespect and stigmatization compared to adults.
Health systems have not achieved the same level of “adolescent-centricity” as other age groups. They, along with the health service delivery platforms, are primarily designed for disease management or for other specific age groups such as mothers, children or adults. Efforts at the institutionalizing adolescent-friendly services have primarily focused on individual facilities, rather than on institutionalizing adolescent-friendly elements into health systems. They have also prioritized sexual and reproductive health, and curative services, rather than comprehensive packages of services which include mental health, NCDs, prevention of violence, and such.
There is also a need to incorporate the views of adolescents and their families in designing and implementing these health services. This is unfortunately not an established practice in most countries, nor is there adequate inter-sectoral programming to meet the multi-dimensional needs of adolescents.
Designing and creating adolescent-responsive health systems is vital. We need to ensure their access to high-quality, inclusive, and respectful health services. Adolescents should be able to avail these services anywhere they choose, and without any restrictions, financial or otherwise. This will also strengthen comprehensive PHC systems, move us closer to our Universal Health Coverage goals.
I am pleased to say that one of our region’s priorities is investing in the health of women, girls, adolescents, and vulnerable populations. This is one of the five tactical approaches for a healthier, more equitable and sustainable region. I am pleased that our Member States have endorsed these priorities and mandated us to deliver on them.
This topic is also on the agenda for the Ministerial Round Table during the upcoming 77th Regional Committee meeting of our Member States.
I have confidence that the deliberations and technical discussions during the next 3 days will help further this cause. It will require collaboration between countries and key stakeholders, mobilizing high-level political commitment, with enhanced resources, for us to be successful.
I know that together, we will be successful. We owe our adolescents nothing less.
Thank you.