Thomson Reuters Foundation: Young people are key to a healthy future for Africa
Matshidiso Moeti, WHO regional director for Africa

“…Africa has to look at how to harness the energy of its youth to create a health system that suits all. … The health and development of Africa’s adolescents is key to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to health. … [W]e need an approach to health care access that is focused on youth. It will require new and innovative ways of working and interacting with young people. We need targeted and coordinated systems in place to protect our youth — and for them to become responsible citizens, we also need to invest in them: Our continent’s future lies in the health of the youth. We should educate our youngest generations and encourage them to adopt healthy lifestyles, work together to create holistic solutions to continental problems — this requires collective commitment, cross-sectoral collaboration, and a ‘health in all policies’ approach to reinforce the point that no individual body, government, or group can do this alone in the current global context. Universal health coverage begins with our youth. We need to act now to safeguard their future” (6/26).