Facts Over Fear: UNICEF Calls Media to Champion Teen Well‑Being

UNICEF’s call for stronger adolescent health coverage  
A day-long capacity-building workshop titled Emerging Adolescent Health Priorities was held in Pune, bringing together senior editors, health and transport journalists, educators, and public health experts from across Maharashtra. UNICEF highlighted the urgent need for sustained, human-centered reporting on adolescent health challenges, particularly cervical cancer prevention, nutrition awareness, and road safety.  

Participants discussed structural barriers in newsrooms, strategies to counter misinformation, and the importance of evidence-driven narratives. Road safety was a major focus, with data showing Maharashtra recorded over 36,000 crashes and 15,000 fatalities in 2024, many involving adolescents. UNICEF urged the media to deepen engagement and ensure adolescent health issues receive consistent coverage.  

Major takeaways  

• Workshop emphasized cervical cancer, nutrition, and road safety as critical adolescent health priorities  
• Journalists trained in critical appraisal skills for evidence-based reporting  
• Maharashtra’s road safety crisis highlighted, with adolescents among the most affected  
• Media urged to counter misinformation and promote sustained awareness campaigns  
• Collaboration between editors, educators, and health experts to strengthen coverage  

Sources: Free Press Journal, Indian Express, Pune Mirror, UNICEF India