Opportunities in crisis for optimising child health and development

Abstract

The Lancet Series on optimising child and adolescent health and development1–4 arrives at the right time. For many years, the global health community has known that quality primary health care, including antenatal care, immunisation, and optimal nutrition, helps children survive past their fifth birthday and live healthy lives. Child survival has improved because of combined efforts in these areas; but the scale and scope of the global threats to child health and wellbeing, including conflicts, climate crises, and other humanitarian emergencies, all compounded by COVID-19, now put decades of progress at grave risk.