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Investing in adolescent health and development
Undoubtedly, there is a
need to work on prevention of adolescent health problems. Society must ensure
healthy and holistic development of adolescents since healthy development
underlies the prevention of health problems. Society must be able to offer
them a safe and supportive environment, wholesome nutrition, education,
vocational training etc. so that they grow into healthy employable and
productive adults. Thus it makes great sense for a society to invest in
adolescent health and development because of the following reasons:
 To
inculcate healthy habits and lifestyles so that health problems are prevented
To reduce morbidity and mortality among
adolescents
To impact National indicators like high TFR,
MMR & IMR, arrest HIV epidemic
To develop their capacity to cope with daily
life situations and deal with them effectively
Increase National Productivity: A healthy adolescent
grows into a healthy adult, physically, emotionally and mentally - maximizing
potential and productivity
Economic benefits through increased
productivity, averting future health costs of treating AIDS, tobacco related
illness, life-style related illness etc.
Human Rights Considerations: Adolescents have
a right to achieve optimum level of health
The situation of young people
today presents the world with an unprecedented opportunity to accelerate
growth and reduce poverty (World Development Report 2007).
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