Improving Child and Adolescent Health in the Americas with a Focus on Equity: PAHO Director
Improving Child and Adolescent Health in the Americas with a Focus ... Pan American Health Organization
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Improving Child and Adolescent Health and Development in the Americas
Washington, DC, November 17, 2023 (PAHO) – The Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, highlighted the need to prioritize and enhance child and adolescent health and development in the Americas following the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. In an event today, Dr. Barbosa emphasized the importance of an equity-focused approach towards achieving this goal.
Urgent Calls to Action for Child and Adolescent Health
“We are still faced with the fact that 13 out of every 1,000 children born in the Americas die before their fifth birthday, with significant disparities between and within countries. In addition, nearly 4 out of every 100 adolescents between the ages of 15 and 19 gave birth in the past year in our region. These figures are not mere statistics; they are urgent calls to action,” stated Dr. Barbosa during the opening of the Regional Dissemination Webinar: Lancet Series on “Optimizing Child and Adolescent Health and Development”.
Discussion on Lancet Series 2022 and Health Trajectories
The virtual meeting organized by PAHO focused on the findings and recommendations presented in the Lancet Series 2022 on optimizing child and adolescent health and development. It also addressed the significance of modeling health trajectories during the first 20 years of life to improve health outcomes and overall well-being.
Opportunity for Optimal Efficiency in Human Development
“Investment in the first two decades of life is an opportunity for optimal efficiency in human development. The early years represent a crucial stage in the development of social and emotional skills and is when the human brain experiences its greatest rate of growth and plasticity,” emphasized Dr. Barbosa.
Importance of Primary Care-based Health Systems
Dr. Barbosa stressed the need for greater investment in primary care-based health systems that prioritize and actively contribute to health outcomes during this crucial stage. He highlighted that health and development trajectories formed during this period shape later stages of life.
Commitment to Health and Integral Development
In conclusion, Dr. Barbosa called for reinforced commitment to the health and integral development of children and adolescents. The aim is to ensure that their journey is not just about survival, but that they have the opportunity to thrive and reach their maximum development potential.
Webinar Participants
The webinar also included the participation of academics and health experts from various institutions, including:
- Johns Hopkins School of Public Health (United States)
- International Center for Equity in Health at the Federal University of Pelotas (Brazil)
- Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health (United States)
- Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto (Canada)
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
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SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
- Target 3.2: By 2030, end preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age
- Target 3.7: By 2030, ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services, including for family planning, information and education, and the integration of reproductive health into national strategies and programs
The article highlights the need to prioritize and improve child and adolescent health and development in the Americas. It mentions that 13 out of every 1,000 children born in the Americas die before their fifth birthday, emphasizing the need to end preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age. Additionally, it states that nearly 4 out of every 100 adolescents between the ages of 15 and 19 gave birth in the past year in the region, highlighting the importance of ensuring universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services.
Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being | Target 3.2: By 2030, end preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age | – Number of deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age in the Americas – Progress towards reducing the child mortality rate in the region |
| SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being | Target 3.7: By 2030, ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services, including for family planning, information and education, and the integration of reproductive health into national strategies and programs | – Percentage of adolescents between the ages of 15 and 19 who have access to sexual and reproductive health-care services – Number of adolescent pregnancies in the Americas |
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Source: paho.org
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