It's important to talk about adolescent health

World Health Day is celebrated around the world on 7 April. The World Association of Girl Scouts and Girl Guides (WAGGGS) believes adolescent girls face a unique set of challenges affecting their health that requires a comprehensive and holistic approach.

The United Nations (UN) focuses this year on international health security and wants to urge governments and organizations to "Invest in health, build a safer future".

The UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says in his message on World Health Day:

Life and health are our most precious possessions. We have the knowledge and unprecedented resources to build a healthier, safer world.
Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary-General

The UN has an agency specialised on health related issues called World Health Organization (WHO). Find out more about the WHO’s activities on World Health Day.

Did you know?

…that 83% of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts who participated in a WAGGGS survey believe that smoking should be banned in public places?

…that nearly a quarter of these Girl Guides and Girl Scouts know somebody living with HIV/AIDS and think it is the most important health issue to discuss in public?

...that 42% of girls want WAGGGS to provide appropriate sexual and reproductive health education programmes for its members?

These are some of the findings from WAGGGS first ever global survey. The survey was on adolescent health and 6,000 member in 100 countries responded. It resulted in WAGGGS 7 key messages:

girls worldwide say "fight AIDS"

girls worldwide say "make healthy food choices"

girls worldwide say "prevent adolescent pregnancy"

girls worldwide say "it is important to talk about sex"

girls worldwide say "let’s talk about the danger of drugs"

girls worldwide say "ban smoking in public places"

girls worldwide say "discover your potential"

Find out more about WAGGGS’ adolescent health survey and WAGGGS’ adolescent health projects.

Have a look!

What you eat has a great impact on your health but unfortunately not everybody has secure access to sufficient food and a balanced diet. Have a look at the ‘The Right to Food – A Window to the World’ new website and find out more about food and nutrition issues around the world.

‘The Right to Food’ – a Window to the World’ is also an educational cartoon book for young people. It is accompanied by an activity guide for leaders and teachers and was published in 2006 by WAGGGS, together with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The cartoon book features eight stories about young people from eight different countries on food related issues.

The book is available in six languages (Arabic, English, French, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish). To order the brochure and activity guide please contact RTF-youth@fao.org. You can also download an electronic copy of the publication in the resources section of the WAGGGS’ website.

Tell us about you

It is easy to make little changes to your daily routine to improve your health.

Tell us what are you planning to do to have a healthier life style. Use the comment section to share your opinion.

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