WHO Creates Youth Council Towards Tackling Devt Issues

BY CAMI EZENWA

The World Health Organisation (WHO) says it has created a youth council to support its efforts at tackling development issues around the world.

WHO director-general, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said the council would particularly provide advice in the best way to react to the coronavirus pandemic and other matters which affect young people.

A release from the WHO made available to The Eagle said this would work through a comprehensive and inclusive WHO Youth Engagement Strategy.

The global body said ever before the Covid-19, it had become keenly aware the importance of listening to young people.

“Young people are less at risk of severe disease and death from COVID-19 but will be the most affected by the long-term consequences of the pandemic, which will shape the world they live and work in for decades to come,” said Ghebreyesus.

“The WHO Youth Council has been set up to hear the voices and experiences of young people, and to harness and expand their energy and ideas to promote and protect health for all.”

The WHO release added that the Youth Council brings together young people from health and non-health backgrounds from all over the world to provide advice to the Director-General on global health, and other health and development issues.

It’s a place where the Director-General and WHO Leadership can engage directly with young people.

The Youth Council will serve as a platform for designing and incubating new initiatives and for maintaining and expanding existing meaningful youth engagement initiatives of WHO.

The Council members belong to youth advocacy movements from around the globe.   Members are expected to meet several times a year to discuss issues that matter to their peers and community.

As WHO would like this Council to be youth-led, an inclusive and diverse initial group will define the modalities. The design of the WHO Youth Council is underway in collaboration with youth representatives from diverse organisations.

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Such organisations include student health organisations, young health professionals organisations, other health-focused youth NGOs, non-health youth NGOs as well as major groups on children and youth.