The Global strategy for women’s, children’s and adolescents’ health (2016–2030): a roadmap based on evidence and country experience

The Global strategy for women’s, children’s and adolescents’ health (2016–2030) provides a roadmap for ending preventable deaths of women, children and adolescents by 2030 and helping them achieve their potential for and rights to health and well-being in all settings.1 The global strategy has three objectives: survive (end preventable deaths); thrive (ensure health and well-being); and transform (expand enabling environments). These objectives are aligned with 17 targets within nine of the sustainable development goals (SDGs),2 including SDG 3 on health and other SDGs related to the political, social, economic and environmental determinants of health and sustainable development. Like the SDGs, the global strategy is universal in scope and multisectoral in action, aiming for transformative change across numerous challenging areas for health and sustainable development (Box 1).1 The strategy was developed through evidence reviews and syntheses and a global stakeholder consultation,3,4 and draws on new thinking about priorities and approaches for health and sustainable development.4 Particular attention was given to experience gained and lessons learnt by countries during implementation of the previous Global strategy for women’s and children’s health (2010–2015)5 and achieving the millennium development goals (MDGs).6,7 A five-year operational framework with up-to-date technical resources has also been developed to support country-led implementation of the global strategy. This framework will be regularly updated until 2030.1,3 Evidence shows that progress is required across a set of overlapping and mutually reinforcing areas to improve the health, dignity and well-being of women, children and adolescents.4,7,8 Key areas for action were set out in the first global strategy (2010–2015), including health financing; the health system and workforce; access to essential interventions and life-saving commodities; national leadership; and accountability.5 Based on emergent evidence, sociopolitical and environmental changes and the SDGs, the current global strategy (2016–2030) includes new strategic areas, for example adolescent health; humanitarian and fragile settings; an integrated life-course approach to health recognizing the links across different stages; multisector approaches; and guiding principles such as universality, human rights, equity and development effectiveness.1 The Global strategy for women’s, children’s and adolescents’ health (2016–2030): a roadmap based on evidence and country experience Shyama Kuruvilla, Flavia Bustreo, Taona Kuo, CK Mishra, Katie Taylor, Helga Fogstad, Geeta Rao Gupta, Kate Gilmore, Marleen Temmerman, Joe Thomas, Kumanan Rasanathan, Ted Chaiban, Anshu Mohan, Anna Gruending, Julian Schweitzer, Hannah Sarah Dini, John Borrazzo, Hareya Fassil, Lars Gronseth, Rajat Khosla, Richard Cheeseman, Robin Gorna, Lori McDougall, Kadidiatou Toure, Kate Rogers, Kate Dodson, Anita Sharma, Marta Seoane & Anthony Costello