vision2017.csis.orgHer Health, Her Lifetime, Our World | Vision 2017

Recent Work Task Force Members Rep. Donovan and Rep. Quigley in The Hill Report: Her Health, Her Lifetime, Our World Video: Christy Turlington Burns outlines Task Force’s Final Proposal Archives March 2017 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 July 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 December 2015 November 2015 Other Sectoral Studies Family Planning Immunizations Nutrition Maternal and Child Health Share this Other Resources: 2016 Survey U.S. Govt Funding for Women’s and Family Health Changing the course of history in US priority countries REPORT RECOMMENDATION RATIONALE ACTION PLAN CONCLUSION DOWNLOAD THE LATEST ABOUT TASK FORCE MEMBERS ON THE GROUND RESOURCES ­ Her Health, Her Lifetime, Our World Vision2017 Leadership 2019-03-27T18:11:43+00:00 RECOMMENDATION RATIONALE ACTION PLAN CONCLUSION DOWNLOAD Introduction She is a 12-year-old who needs to stay in school, be adequately nourished, learn how to keep herself safe and healthy, and be vaccinated against HPV to protect her from cervical cancer later in life. She is a single 16-year-old who seeks to complete her secondary education and find a job, while meeting her needs for voluntary contraceptive choices and protection against HIV. She is a married 24-year-old who wants to provide for her family, control the timing and spacing of her pregnancies, survive childbirth, live a healthy full life, and have strong, well-nourished children. As the adolescent girl becomes a young woman, her life prospects and those of her children will rest on access to several vital interventions that are commonplace in the United States: information and services on voluntary contraceptive choices, access to education and prevention of early child marriage, basic nutrition, vaccines to prevent cervical cancer, economic opportunities, and reliable protections against violence. How her life evolves will rely on access to quality care, informed decisions, and critical support structures. We have a historic opportunity to make a difference—for her future, for the future of her family and community, and for our own—by providing the tools that allow her to realize her full potential. From our co-chairs The work of the CSIS Task Force exemplifies how people with different perspectives can unite behind a common mission and work to create positive change. We were fortunate to have the insights of leaders from Congress, industry, foundations, universities, the faith community, and nongovernmental organizations, among others, all committed to building on the impressive American legacy in global public health. The resulting vision of improving the health and well-being of adolescent girls and young women, and in doing so, unleashing their economic and social potential, will resonate throughout our society and can be realized with the determined leadership of both Congress and the administration.” — Helene Gayle As a global health leader, the United States has a unique ability to help improve the lives of girls and women in developing nations. Through the partnership of government, businesses, and nonprofits, and by leveraging the innovation and technology that America is known for, together, we can truly help change lives in a powerful and lasting way.”— John Hammergren Photo credit: Sala Lewis Recommendation The CSIS Task Force recommends that the Trump administration, in concert with Congress, launch a signature health initiative that targets not a single disease or global health challenge, but rather an important population: adolescent girls and young women (ages 10–24). The Goal: To secure the health and future of adolescent girls and young women in 13 low-income countries. Doing so will generate vital returns over the course of their lives and the lives of their children, significantly strengthening families, communities, and societies at-large. The Strategy: Concerted U.S. high-level leadership over the next four years will expand proven interventions that advance maternal and newborn health, family planning and reproductive health, nutrition, and prevention of cervical cancer. It will build upon the PEPFAR structures that have achieved dramatic gains in reducing the risk of HIV infection. Success will be aided by a tight geographic focus on 13 target countries, and a careful, systematic approach that joins the expansion of health-related services with improved access to education, economic empowerment, and gender-based violence prevention and response programs. The strategy will rely on innovative approaches to technology, lessons learned from the business community, systematic use of existing investments, strong governance and accountability, engagement of men and boys, and aggressive mobilization of diverse financial resources, including expanded contributions by the private sector. Photo credit: Sala Lewis The Rationale Why this population now? A Period of Immense Change for Young Women: Early adolescence (10 to 14 years) is a critical time to build on previous investments in child health, nutrition, HIV prevention, and education, and to lay the foundation for continued cognitive and physical development. The onset of puberty is an important time to reach girls with information about reproductive health, nutrition, gender-based violence, and gender equality. Late adolescence (15 to 19 years) represents an important period to build and expand health and education gains. In the developing world, the average adolescent girl often becomes sexually active, marries, and has her first child in this period—one of many reasons why only 18 percent of young women complete secondary school across the 13 target countries. Young adulthood (20 to 24 years) is a critical time for young women to sustain health gains and realize their full earning potential. In developing countries, many young mothers quickly become pregnant again, which increases the risks for mother and newborn of dying during childbirth, as well as illness and other complications during and after delivery. It also decreases their access to social and economic opportunities. An Urgent Need: The adolescent and young adult population in low-income countries is at a historic high and will continue to rise in the coming years. 1 This demographic phenomenon, a central dimension of the youth bulge,” threatens to lead to high unemployment and instability, including in countries that matter significantly to U.S. national interests. 2 Recent progress in reducing deaths among children under the age of five means there are more young women than ever in history who need to be reached with critical services. As these young women navigate the journey between childhood and adulthood, they and any children they bear face perilous health risks that can both compromise their potential and impose grave costs to society. Too often, adolescent girls and young women, especially those living in poverty, fall through the cracks: they live with high risks of early marriage, unintended pregnancy, gender-based violence, and exploitation, which in turn leave them at high risk of maternal mortality and serious illness, birth complications, HIV infection, and cervical cancer. Within the household, they are often the last to eat, putting them at increased risk of malnutrition. As these risks intensify, lifetime educational and economic opportunities slip away. 3 A High-Yield Opportunity. Investing in adolescent girls and young women, we now know, has a triple impact: On the lifetime of that individual; On the lifetime of her children, the next generation; and On the broader prosperity of her community. 4 According to the World Bank, improving health outcomes for women can increase labor productivity by as much as 25 percent in some countries. 5 By supporting young women today and assisting them to become productive members of society tomorrow, the world economy stands to grow by as much as $12 trillion, should women be permitted to play an equal role in labor markets as men. 6...