SAARC and UNICEF Hold Regional Dialogue to Address Adolescent Pregnancy

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Secretariat, in collaboration with the UNICEF Regional Office for South Asia, recently convened a crucial regional dialogue to tackle the pressing issue of adolescent pregnancy in the South-East Asia Region.

The event featured esteemed dignitaries, including Saima Wazed, WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia, and representatives from various international organizations. Saima Wazed highlighted the urgency of the issue, noting that the South-East Asia Region constitutes 26 percent of the global population and 29 percent of the global adolescent population. She emphasized the severe health challenges faced by adolescents, including alarmingly high mortality and morbidity rates, with approximately 670 adolescents dying daily from preventable causes.

A particularly concerning issue is adolescent pregnancy, with nearly 6 million teenage girls aged 15 to 19 giving birth annually in the region. Wazed pointed out that adolescent pregnancy is often associated with child marriage, a practice deeply entrenched in social, cultural, and gender norms, and recognized as a violation of fundamental human rights.

“Child marriage restricts girls’ ability to make choices, disrupts their education, and exposes them to increased risks of domestic violence,” stated Wazed. She emphasized the adverse impact on adolescent mothers, who face challenges in continuing their education and developing essential skills, thus limiting their economic opportunities and perpetuating cycles of poverty and poor health across generations.

The dialogue also addressed the significant health risks faced by adolescent mothers, including higher maternal mortality rates compared to older women, and elevated risks for their babies. Wazed stressed the importance of improving access to quality maternal care and family planning services tailored to adolescents’ specific needs.

Additionally, she underscored the critical role of cross-sectoral collaboration and equitable access to comprehensive health services in effectively tackling adolescent pregnancy. Wazed praised the initiative taken by SAARC and UNICEF to convene the regional consultation, aiming to build consensus and enhance access to adolescent-friendly health services and education across the region.

“Investments in adolescent health are crucial for sustainable socio-economic development and ensuring the wellbeing of future generations,” affirmed Wazed, reinforcing WHO’s commitment to advancing the health and rights of women, girls, and vulnerable populations in the South-East Asia Region.

The dialogue concluded with a call to action for robust policy frameworks and targeted interventions to address the multifaceted challenges of adolescent pregnancy, paving the way for improved health outcomes and the empowerment of young people across the region.