Over 100 governments acknowledge the importance of health and well-being of women, children and adolescents

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More than 100 governments raised the topic of the health and well-being of women, children, and adolescents during the 78th UN General Assembly in New York, held between 5-26 September this year.

A tracker developed by PMNCH recorded the source, context, and content of each intervention during three highlevel meetings (HLMs), including the SDG Summit, the Pandemic prevention, preparedness and response (PPPR) high-level meeting and the Universal Health Coverage (UHC)  High-Level Meeting. Overall, maternal health issues were raised in four country statements during the SDG Summit and 39 times during the UHC HLM; newborn health was raised 0 times in the SDG Summit and in 23 country statements in the UHC HLM; child health issues were covered in 12 country statements during the SDG Summit and 34 in the UHC HLM; during the PPPR HLM, maternal, newborn and child health issues were raised in 9 country statements; adolescent well-being issues were mentioned in 33 country statements during the SDG Summit, 2 during the PPPR HLM and 10 during the UHC HLM. SRHR issues, including gender-based violence, were referenced five times during the SDG Summit, six times at the HLM on PPPR and 22 times at the UHC HLM. The results have been tabulated, analyzed and published in a brief summary report.

Health took an unprecedented center stage thanks to the three HLMs on PPPR, 20 September,UHC, 21 September and Fight against tuberculosis, 22 September. Women’s, children’s and adolescents’ health (WCAH) was also addressed in the General Debate and most of the HLMs. The main recurrent issues mentioned by Member States included: gender equality and women empowerment, empowering and addressing the needs of youth and future generations, especially with regard to skills for employment, as well as education. Few references were made to the worrying regression and stagnation of global maternal mortality rates, a prerequisite for the achievement of SDG3 on health.

“It is vital to understand how and where countries are raising concerns about the health and well-being of women, children and adolescents. By mapping and analyzing this information, we can assess current concerns and gaps felt by political leaders, as well as identify potential champion countries to partner in our advocacy efforts,” said Helga Fogstad, Executive Director of PMNCH.

As it stands, the unique needs of these groups are often neglected. For example, in 2020, it was still the case that a woman was dying every two minutes due to complications in childbirth; many of those deaths were unattended by a skilled birth attendant. That same year an estimated five million children, aged five or under, died, mostly from preventable causes. Additionally, 214 million women in low- or middle-income countries want to but can’t access a modern method of contraception and amid climate change, pandemics, and conflict, women and children continue to be disproportionately affected. 

“The economic impact of COVID-19 pandemic and the impact of the war in Ukraine have only added to the pressure and the anxiety of our young people," Nana Akufo-Addo, the President of Ghana, highlighted in the General Debate.

For too long, the specific threats posed to WCAH globally have been ignored and, as a result, progress toward the UN Sustainable Development Goals stagnates. Only 15% of the SDG targets are considered to be on track to meet the 2030 deadline.

This year, however, at the halfway point to the SDG deadline, many ministers, government representatives and heads of state made mention of WCAH in some way at UNGA. According to tracking by PMNCH, WCAH was addressed in the General Debate and most of the high-level meetings. Overall, the regions that most often highlighted issues related to WCAH were countries from Africa, the Americas and Europe.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh, for example, in the General Debate, stressed her country’s commitment to gender equality, including through the eradication of gender-based violence. Luiz Inácio Lula Da Silva, President of Brazil, shared how his country is implementing income transfer programs targeted to ensure children are vaccinated and remain in school while highlighting the country’s commitment to ensure equal pay and its fight against gender-based violence. And William Ruto, President of Kenya, highlighted the need for improved job creation for young people, and the importance of reversing migration trends.

“The tragic spectacle of young people from Africa boarding rickety contraptions to gamble their lives away on dangerous voyages in pursuit of opportunities abroad, as conflict, climate and economic refugees, is a testament of the failures of the global economic system,” he said. “Development is a basic necessity for every society; it must happen one way or another.”

During the SDG Summit, young people’s needs, and well-being were underscored. However, there were few mentions on SDG 3.1 on maternal mortality and SDG 3.2 on neonatal and child mortality. In terms of cross-cutting issues, climate change was a very frequent topic of discussion, as well as education and nutrition.

While world leaders’ mention of marginalized groups and the issues that specifically threaten their well-being is welcome, it must go beyond that if real progress is to be made. At the HLM on UHC, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization stated that real commitment to UHC requires action around budgetary and policy decisions to ensure primary health care is inclusive, equitable, and efficient.

Achieving UHC cannot happen without promoting sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). During the UHC HLM, Spain made a statement on behalf of 59 other governments on the importance of promoting and ensuring SRHR is placed at the core of UHC. In addition, several references were made to the important of UHC for the health of adolescents and future generations.

Throughout the week, several countries did go beyond simply a mention to making tangible commitments into WCAH.

“The commitment also seeks to address road trafficked injuries and deaths as faced by this group, including physical, sexual and psychological forms of GBV within schools, communities and society at large,” said Hon. Kabo Morwaeng, Minister for Presidential Affairs, Botswana.