The United Nations (UN) says that the world population has officially topped eight billion.
Following this new development, the Partnership for Maternal Newborn and Child Health (PMNCH) has called for greater attention to policy and financing for the health and well-being of young people who have become the largest generation in history.
The PMNCH also said adolescence is a critical stage of development, but between 2003 and 2015, only 1.6% of development health assistance supported adolescent programming.
The organization stated this in a press statement signed by its Board Chair and former Prime Minister of New Zealand, Hon Helen Clark concerning the International Conference on Family Planning (ICFP2022) held in Pattaya, Thailand.
Clark stated: “A rising global movement of 1.8 billion young people calls for greater attention to policy and financing for their health and well-being World population officially topped 8 billion this week, as the largest generation of young people in history – 1.8 billion adolescents and youth (aged 10 to 24) – faces an unprecedented number of challenges to health and wellbeing.
“Adolescence is a critical stage of development, but between 2003 and 2015, only 1.6% of development health assistance supported adolescent programming. The situation has been exacerbated considerably by the triple threat of conflict, climate change, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Ensuring high-quality sexual and reproductive care for adolescents and young people was high on the agenda this week at the International Conference on Family Planning (ICFP2022) in Pattaya, Thailand.
“ICFP2022 concluded with the launch of a global consensus report, Let Them Know: A Youth-Led AYSRHR Global Roadmap for Action. The roadmap is dedicated to achieving the full realization of sexual and reproductive health, rights, and justice for all young people, developed among more than 40 youth-led organizations.”
