The Lancet Editorial that accompanies the Series says that unprecedented momentum is gathering to put adolescents into the centre of global health policies.
The Editorial says young people are our future assets. They provide energy, innovation, productivity, and progress.
The Editorial concludes: "We need to invest in our young people by taking four steps. First, we need to measure, and compare nationally, regionally, and globally the health and behaviour of young people. Second, we need to formulate goals for healthy development of young people linked to the non-communicable disease agenda. Third, effective preventive interventions need to be applied and scaled up. And finally, the impact of these preventive interventions on health in young people but also in adults needs to be monitored and reviewed, with gaps and obstacles addressed directly. We hope that this week in New York will be a defining moment, one that puts adolescent health as an equal concern alongside existing health priorities in the world. The future of young people certainly deserves this serious new attention."
The Lancet Press Office. T) +44 (0) 20 7424 4949 E) tony.kirby@lancet.com
The Lancet