PAHO Launches Third ‘Youth Voices’ Creative Contest on Enhancing Health Services for Young People in the Americas

In Washington DC, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has announced the launch of its third “Youth Voices” creative contest on July 1. The contest is open to adolescents and young people between the ages of 10 and 24 from across the Americas. They are invited to share their perspectives on how to improve the quality of health services available to young people. The deadline for submissions is July 31, 2024.

The contest features a variety of creative categories such as painting, drawing, illustration, comic, poem, narrative, video, song, and a new category utilizing Artificial Intelligence (AI). The aim of this year’s “Youth Voices” competition is to gather insights from young people on how to enhance accessibility and quality health services for them. By doing so, PAHO hopes to reduce preventable deaths and illnesses among young people in the Americas while promoting overall health and well-being.

According to Dr. Sonja Caffe, PAHO’s Regional Advisor on Adolescent Health, access to healthcare means being able to receive comprehensive, appropriate, timely, and high-quality health services when needed. She emphasized PAHO’s commitment to providing quality health services for all age groups but highlighted the importance of understanding young people’s needs and expectations in enhancing service delivery.

The “Youth Voices” contest was first introduced in 2022 with a focus on preventing adolescent pregnancy followed by a second edition in 2023 dedicated to mental health. Over 800 adolescents and young people from across the Americas have participated in previous contests by meeting requirements and submitting their proposals. Winners of the Youth Voices contest will receive cash prizes for their original works created specifically for this competition that will be showcased on PAHO communication platforms and related campaigns.

In conclusion, PAHO encourages all eligible individuals between the ages of 10 and 24 from across the Americas to participate in its third “Youth Voices” creative contest by sharing their perspectives on improving accessibility and quality health services for young people.