Agenda for investing for Adolescent Health and Well Being launched

Adolescents in Tanzania will now benefit access to friendlier health services as a result of a recently launched national agenda to boost their development.  The National Accelerated Action and Investment Agenda for Adolescent Health and Well Being will function for three years starting April 17, 2021.

The Prime Minister, Hon. Kassim Majaliwa Majaliwa graced the launch of the agenda at a high-level event attended by key sectoral government ministers, development partners, CSO and adolescents.  This new agenda firmly positions adolescent girls and boys and their multiple vulnerabilities.  It’s focused on six pillars including Preventing HIV, Preventing Teenage Pregnancies, preventing physical, sexual and emotional violence, Improving nutrition, Keeping girls and boys in school, and developing skills for economic opportunities.

The aim of this agenda which has considered various government policies is to empower and equip adolescents to make a healthy transition to a productive adulthood. 

In his speech, The Prime Minister reiterated the governments’ commitment to invest in adolescent’s health and wellbeing urging all sector ministries to implement their commitments made at the launch. The Premier urged development partners follow suit and commit to support implementation of the Agenda.  Majaliwa called for periodic implementation reviews of the agenda, measuring progress towards the 2025 goals.

“Investing in Health and Development for Adolescents has no alternative, especially in this period in which the Government is strengthening itself in investing in the establishment and development of industries to boost our country's economy which is currently in the middle class. I am aware that the implementation of this Agenda will involve Sectorial Ministries, Development Stakeholders and local and foreign NGOs. Therefore, let me call on all stakeholders to continue working with the Government in this responsibility,” said Hon Majaliwa.

The Minister for Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children, Dr Dorothy Gwajima said her Ministry, in collaboration with stakeholders, have prepared a strong coordination, monitoring and evaluation system to support the successful implementation of the agenda.

UNICEF Representative, Shalini Bahuguna represented UN agencies at the launch. Shalini said the Agenda matters for the country today and for its future, as Tanzania has a youthful population ­ – the largest in the region – with a fast demographic growth rate. She reiterated UN agencies support to the government to implement the agenda and to strengthen and enhancing interlinkages. Other UN agencies including UNFPA, WHO and UN Women supported development of the Agenda.