Context:
The Second Lancet Commission on Adolescent Health and Wellbeing has released a sweeping new report, charting both progress and persisting challenges in adolescent health on a global scale.
Key findings of the commission:
- Multi-Burden Countries: By 2030, 1 billion adolescents will live in countries with a high burden of disease, including HIV/AIDS, early pregnancy, depression, malnutrition, and injury.
- 464 Million Adolescents: The commission projects that 464 million adolescents globally will be overweight or obese by 2030, a significant increase from 2015.
- Mental Health: 42 million years of healthy life will be lost to mental disorders or suicide by 2030, highlighting the need for urgent action.
- Funding Disparity: Adolescent health receives only 2.4% of total development assistance for health, despite adolescents accounting for 25.2% of the world population.
Commission's Recommendations:
- Increased Investments: Governments and organizations need to invest more in adolescent health, focusing on interventions that address specific health issues.
- Enabling Laws and Policies: Laws and policies should protect adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights, reduce the impact of commercial determinants of health, and promote healthy use of social media and online spaces.
- Multi-Sectoral Approach: A comprehensive approach involving healthcare, education, and social services is crucial to address the complex needs of adolescents.
- Coordination: Ministries of health and education need to coordinate interventions in schools to amplify gains made in adolescent health.
Significance of the Report:
· Sheer Numbers: The global population of 2 billion adolescents constitutes around 24% of the world's population, making adolescent health a critical issue.
· Conflict-Affected Areas: An estimated 340 million (18%) adolescents live in conflict-affected areas, highlighting the need for targeted interventions.
· Data Matters: Better indicators and improvement in data systems are required to monitor systemic changes in health and wellbeing outcomes.
Conclusion:
The second Lancet Commission on Adolescent Health and Wellbeing highlights the need for urgent action to address the health challenges faced by adolescents worldwide. Increased investments, laws, and a multi-sectoral approach are essential to ensure adolescent wellbeing and pave the way for greater gender equity and better life outcomes
