Alexandria, Egypt Sept. 30th – October 2nd, 2024

Summary Report

The 5th MENA region adolescents’ wellness conference was held in Alexandria, Egypt during the period September 30th to October 2nd, 2024. The conference was organized by the Arab Coalition for Adolescent Health & Medicine (ACAHM) in collaboration with the Egyptian Society for Adolescent Medicine (ESAM) and in partnership with the International Development & Research Center of Canada (IDRC) under the patronage of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health & Population of Egypt and the League of Arab States.

OBJECTIVES OF THE CONFERENCE:


The conference aimed at breaking the silence around the unmet health needs of the large and increasing cohort of adolescents in the Middle East and North Africa Region. It would also demonstrate that investing in adolescents’ health, development and well-being is the most cost-effective investment a nation can make for the present and future. The specific objectives of the conference were:

  • Bringing together key stakeholders in adolescent health and well-being from across the region and international community – including academia, policy makers, practitioners, researchers, adolescent and youth representatives, and the media – to discuss how to advance the agenda for better adolescent health and well-being,
  • Arab adolescents would be seen and heard during the conference in order to voice their abilities, talents, challenges and demands. Participants would also discuss innovative approaches to encourage genuine participation of adolescents in community development and other voluntary efforts,
  • To share scientific evidence on adolescent health and development, as well as insights from practitioners and adolescents into the successes and limitations of current strategies and interventions at regional and national levels,
  • To provide a multi-sectorial platform for discussing and building a shared understanding, identifying gaps and opportunities, and developing a way forward for adolescent health, development and rights in the Arab World,
  • Identify evidence-based adolescents’ healthcare practices in the arenas of
  • mental health, physical health, sexual health, and nutritional health,
  • Understand, discuss and encourage utilization of the latest advancements in technology and communication with and among adolescents.
  • Advocate for research into the regional adolescent health needs and service provisions.

THEME:
“Enhancing Adolescents’ Well-being” was stated to be the main theme of the conference. Interest in “well-being” as a comprehensive need of adolescents was inspired by the 1.8 campaign and the Global Adolescent Forum conducted 2023 by WHO and six UN agencies.


OPENING CEREMONY:
The opening ceremony was held on September 30th, 2024, in the large theatre of Bibliotheca Alexandrina after the conclusion of the Arab Adolescent Forum that was conducted earlier during the day in the same place.

The ceremony was attended by 174 participants and a number of media reporters. It started by a “call” from a group of young people from: Egypt, Palestine, Sudan, Syria, Tunis and Yemen. Each presented a challenge and an expectation from the conference output.


This was followed by the opening remarks from:
Dr. Mamdouh Wahba (ESAM)
Dr. Umaiyeh Khammash (ACAHM) Dr. Nada Ahmed (EMPHNET)
Dr. Nicola Jones (GAGE, ODI) Dr. Anshu Mohan (PMNCH)
Dr. Adele Khodr (UNICEF) prerecorded Dr. Montasser Kamal (IDRC) recorded Dr. Walid Gouda (League of Arab States)

The speeches were followed by a showcase of talented Arab Adolescents; Dona and Malak from Palestine and Nour Islam from Tunis.

PARTICPANTS:
A total of 192 experts, researchers and scientists participated in the conference. They came from 43 different countries and represented twelve regional and international organizations. There were 128 participants from Egypt, Palestine and 10 other Arab countries. The largest group was from Palestine (44 participants). A number of participants could not make it because of not getting the visa on time (Iran and Pakistan) or not being able to leave Gazza as well as cancellation of flights (Lebanon).

COLLABORATING ORGANIZATIONS:

Partners:

  • Arab Coalition for Adolescent Health & Medicine (ACAHM)
  • Egyptian Society for Adolescent Medicine (ESAM)
  • International Development and Research, Canada (IDRC)

Collaborators:

  • WHO
  • UNICEF
  • EMPHNET
  • GAGE, ODU
  • JUZOOR
  • PLAN INTERNATIONAL
  • SAVE THE CHILDREN
  • OXFAM
  • PMNCH
  • FP 2030
  • HAI
  • POPULATION COUNCIL
  • HIGH INSTITUTE OF PUBLIC HEALTH (Alexandria University)

SCIENTIFIC SESSIONS:
The scientific sessions took place at the Fleet Club Hotel in Alexandria over two days; October 1st and 2nd, 2024 from 9 am till 5:30 pm on both days.
The conference agenda was an opulent scientific feast. The Plenary sessions included 9 keynote speeches, WHO symposium, GAGE seminar, EMPHNET panel discussion, Youth dialogue session and The Way forward session.


Oral presentations were discussed on both days in split sessions. The topics discussed on

Day 1:

  • Adolescent marriage (5 presentations),
  • Non Communicable Diseases (5),
  • Adolescents’ care (6),
  • Virtual Communication (5),
  • Sexuality Education (5)
  • Lifestyle (7).

Day 2:

  • Sexual & Reproductive ealthH (6),
  • Violence (7),
  • Mental Health (7)
  • School health (6).

Almost all of the presentations were in English with 2 exceptions only.
Each scientific session was co-chaired by 2 scholars whether national, regional and international. Time was more or less observed specially at the beginning of the day and the lunch break.

ADOLESCENTS’ ENGAGEMENT:
Arab adolescents and youth were impressively seen and heard throughout the conference:

  • The organizing committee was composed of the Youthful Team who is the youth wing of ESAM. They worked hard for 4 months in order to help with the organization of both the Arab Adolescent Forum (September 30th) and the conference. They worked in collaboration with a Board Member from Palestine.
  • Registration and sessions’ management was taken care of by a group of 15
  • years old students from Alexandria. They were so helpful.
  • Audio-visual assistance was provided by 3 young women working all the 3 days and even in split sessions.
  • Two of the oral presentations were provided by 2 young women and a third one presented her findings from virtual focal group discussions with adolescents discussing their conceptions about well-being,
  • The participation of young Arabs in the opening ceremony as mentioned before, was very helpful in setting the stage for the purpose of the conference
  • A whole session was devoted to hearing Arab adolescents from Egypt (2), Palestine, Sudan, Syria, Tunis and Yemen. The session discussed the insight of young Arabs to well-being and its determinants.
CONFERENCE RECOMMENDATIONS

Alexandria Declaration


Participants of the 5th MENA region adolescent wellness conference held in Alexandria, Egypt during the period September 30th to October 2nd, 2024 recognize the call of young Arabs who declared at the opening ceremony of the conference and during conversations that many of the 86 million Arab adolescents are facing immense challenges that threaten their present and future well-being. The ongoing and spreading violence in the region has stunted opportunities leaving them unable to achieve their full potentials. Arab adolescents felt a great need and rights for safety, quality education and healthcare.
We hereby request the Global community to create a safer, supportive and healthier environment for young people to thrive and attain their full potential. There is an immense need to prioritize adolescents’ needs in humanitarian settings and emergency situations.
Participants agreed that the concept of “adolescents’ well-being” was more comprehensive and meaningful when addressing adolescents’ needs, challenges and expectations. The translation of the term “well-being” in Arabic should be رفاه (Rafah).
National and international organizations are providing support and expertise to many communities in order to enhance adolescents’ health, education and well- being. Such help needs to be augmented, coordinated and tailored to respond to the specific demands and challenges of each community.
Participants urge policy makers in the region to recognize adolescence as the most critical period of life and update national strategic plans to include multisector responses to adolescents’ needs and engagement beyond health and education.

Adolescents’ caregivers, experts, academia and service providers are requested to prioritize listening to adolescents’ voices, engaging them in finding solutions to their challenges and responding to their needs.
Capacity building of service providers to be able and willing to provide comprehensive and impactful care for adolescents should ideally be done during undergraduate training in the relevant faculties. However, until this happens, capacity building and motivation of care providers should be done on the job. Special emphasis should be given to healthcare providers in primary health centers, schools and youth centers.
Adolescents’ well-being requires collaboration among various stakeholders including governments, civil societies, private sector and mass media. Private sector involvement needs to be explored to help with reaching young people and providing resources to support their well-being..
School health was considered the most impactful and meaningful intervention that a nation can invest in order to enhance adolescents’ health and well-being as well as educational attainment. The Health Promoting Schools initiative should be implemented at a large scale in the region. The school health program should go beyond the focus on physical health to include also mental health and counseling, creating a safe school environment, enhancing healthy lifestyle and should involve active engagement of parents, teachers and healthcare givers.
Health education and counseling were identified as a main component of school health. They should start as early as grade one and should cover topics such as healthy behaviors, hygiene and nutritional education, among others.
Participants agreed that sexuality and reproductive health education were highly needed to empower young people and protect them against ill health and dangers. However, the contents should be age-specific and culturally appropriate. The naming of this education should also adapt to the local communities cultural norms and beliefs so that it would be acceptable to parents, teachers and the whole community.
Adolescents’ active and genuine engagement in programs, initiatives and community development were thought to be the most effectual element to further programs and helps in enhancing young people’s well-being. Participants

are calling for the establishment of a platform for young people in the region to work together in developing plans and actions needed to achieve these goals.