The Medical Women’s International Association welcomes the progress documented in the Director-General’s Report, and submits 3 recommendations to the World Health Assembly on how to reduce the remaining inequalities in Maternal, Child and Adolescent health.

First, we urge increased investments in adolescent health, with a focus on low- and middle-income countries and the leading causes of 1.1 million annual deaths, including road traffic injuries, mental health disorders, interpersonal violence and infectious diseases.

Second, we call for holistic approaches to adolescent well-being, by securing education, nutrition, water and sanitation, housing and physical security for the 1.8 billion adolescents worldwide.

Finally, we need greater visibility and accountability on severe infections and sepsis in the Global Strategy, as they cause 3 million deaths in under-5 children and account for 1 in 10 maternal deaths.