1. AP government brings together 20 departments to work towards protecting  adolescent health, awareness about physical and mental health, and  also address challenges like HIV prevention.
2. Government developed a website under the “School Health and Wellness” program to provide youth-friendly health information. The website will offer advice on lifestyle, fitness, nutrition, and mental wellbeing.
3. All participating departments will integrate their existing youth-focused initiatives into this common platform and contribute towards adolescent health protection.
4. Regarding HIV, the aim is to reduce new cases and AIDS-related deaths by 80 per cent.

For the first of its kind, the Andhra Pradesh government has brought together as many as 20 departments to work collectively for the protection and promotion of adolescent and youth health. The joint action plan, officials said, is aimed at creating awareness among young people about physical and mental health, while also addressing challenges such as HIV prevention.

In this regard, the government has developed a dedicated website under the School Health and Wellness Programme to provide youth-friendly health information and guidance. “Adolescents are the future of our country. By empowering them with awareness about their own health, we are equipping them to lead stronger lives. The website will serve as a digital health companion for young people, offering advice on lifestyle, fitness, nutrition, and mental wellbeing. This will help them stay informed and prevent health risks at an early stage,” said Commissioner for Health and Family Welfare, Veerapandian.

Furthermore, all participating departments will integrate their existing youth-focused initiatives into this common platform. This convergence ensures that whether it is education, health, women and child welfare, or police outreach, every effort contributes to adolescent health protection. The initiative also includes Wellness Ambassadors in schools, who will interact with students weekly on health issues ranging from nutrition to emotional wellbeing.

Speaking to Metro India, Dr. Neelakantha Reddy, Director of the State AIDS Control Society, said that the government has set an ambitious goal to register one lakh adolescents on the e-module this year alone. “The focus is on building awareness to prevent new HIV infections and safeguard youth from health vulnerabilities. By 2030, we aim to reduce new HIV cases and AIDS-related deaths by 80 per cent.”

Currently, the Women and Child Welfare Department is conducting ongoing programs for adolescent girls which will be integrated to the website along with the Eagle initiative for youth protection by the Police department. The government hopes that this multi-pronged strategy, powered by technology and inter-departmental collaboration, will create a strong support system for adolescents across Andhra Pradesh.