Event highlights
Just months after governments across Europe and central Asia adopted a landmark new strategy to give every child the healthiest possible start in life, WHO Member States are already moving decisively from commitment to implementation.
On 26 February 2026, national focal points from ministries of health and education across all 53 Member States of the WHO European Region gathered with representatives of WHO, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and key partners to accelerate implementation of the Health Promoting Schools approach – a core pillar of “A healthy start for a healthy life: a strategy for child and adolescent health and well-being”.
The meeting marks one of the first concrete regional steps in operationalizing the newly adopted strategy. It also effectively served as the launch of a re‑energized European Network for Health Promoting Schools, with countries strongly welcoming its revitalization.
Member States emphasized the importance of maintaining a vibrant community of experts to exchange knowledge, share practical tools and learn from one another’s successes as well as challenges. They highlighted the unique value of a WHO‑supported network to understand what works, what does not and how to translate evidence into action within real school settings.
Turning political commitment into practical action
Endorsed in October 2025, the new WHO/UNICEF strategy calls for strengthened multisectoral action to ensure that children and young people grow, learn and thrive in environments that protect and promote their health.
Schools are central to that vision.
“Schools are some of the very few settings that reach almost every child, regardless of socioeconomic background or geography,” said Dr Natasha Azzopardi-Muscat, WHO/Europe’s Director of Health Systems, during the opening session. “As a mother of 3 myself, I witnessed first-hand that schools are not simply a place of learning; they are environments that shape behaviours, create opportunities to reduce inequalities and ultimately influence lifelong health trajectories.”
Health Promoting Schools go beyond traditional health education. They integrate health into all aspects of school life – from governance and policies to learning environments, community partnerships and student participation. By embedding well-being into daily practice, schools become powerful platforms for prevention, early support and equity.
This meeting was designed to bridge the gap between strategy and delivery.
Participants outlined national priorities, identified key gaps and challenges, and defined the types of technical support required to accelerate implementation at country level. Countries shared lessons from existing school health initiatives, explored innovative practices and discussed how to address barriers to scale-up.
Building a stronger regional network
A key objective of the gathering was to strengthen collaboration across sectors and borders.
Bringing together ministries of health and education alongside international partners reflects the strategy’s core principle: child and adolescent health is a shared responsibility. Effective implementation of the Health Promoting Schools approach requires sustained cooperation across government sectors, as well as engagement with educators, communities and young people themselves.
Discussions also explored options for structuring and sustaining a regional Health Promoting Schools network in the years ahead, including governance arrangements, modalities of collaboration and mechanisms for long-term engagement.
A life-course investment
Despite progress, children and young people in the WHO European Region continue to face challenges.
One in 3 children aged 5–9, and 1 in 4 adolescents, are living with overweight or obesity; 80% of adolescents do not meet recommended levels of physical activity. Mental ill-health is on the rise, with suicide among the leading causes of death in adolescence. E-cigarette use now surpasses traditional cigarette use among adolescents.
“These challenges require long-term solutions that involve all sectors, not only health,” explained Dr Azzopardi-Muscat. “Our child and adolescent health strategy is grounded in a life-course approach, recognizing that health trajectories are shaped early and influenced by social, environmental and educational determinants.”
By strengthening Health Promoting Schools, countries are investing not only in improved learning outcomes but also in mental health, prevention of noncommunicable diseases, healthier lifestyles and stronger social inclusion.
The approach supports children and adolescents at critical stages of development – helping to prevent ill health, reduce inequalities and build resilience. It also aligns closely with the broader goals of the Second European Programme of Work, which emphasizes prevention, equity and people-centred systems.
Sustaining momentum
As countries advance implementation of the strategy, sustained collaboration will be essential. The meeting reaffirmed the shared commitment of Member States and partners to move beyond policy adoption towards measurable impact.
By fostering communication, strengthening partnerships and identifying concrete support needs, the gathering laid the groundwork for coordinated regional progress.
The message was clear: the strategy is not an endpoint, but a starting point.