In times of crisis, the links between education and health are both critical and mutually reinforcing – but often overlooked. This message came out clearly during the event “Advancing Child and Youth Health through Education, including Ending Violence in and through Schools,” which took place on 21 May 2026 in Geneva, on the sidelines of the World Health Assembly. It was co-sponsored by the Permanent Missions of Sweden, the UK and Zambia to the UN in Geneva, UNESCO, UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Geneva Global Hub for Education in Emergencies (EiE Hub).
Jerome Pfaffmann Zambruni, Unit Head of Public Health Emergencies at UNICEF, discussed how to effectively respond to crises in an integrated and multisectoral way, in particular through health and education responses in during public health crises, such as cholera or Ebola outbreaks. “Schools are supposed to be safe spaces for children in an emergency,” he said, and pointed to three priorities: 1) ensuring continuity of education and that schools remain open; 2) ensuring responses are truly community-based; and 3) investing in improved education infrastructure during emergencies.
Valentina Baltag, Unit Head, Child, Adolescent and Older People Health at the World Health Organization, highlighted the recently launched guidance on school health services, Making every school a health-promoting school: implementation guidance for school health services. “Schools can help to detect and address hidden health problems early. For many children, especially in underserved communities, schools are the only place to access healthcare. Investing in school health is one of the most effective investments you can make.”
Xavier Hospital, Team Leader, Safe Healthy Schools and Data, Section of Health and Education, UNESCO, stressed that health and education outcomes can only improve safe learning is embedded across both health and leaning systems. “Schools are not just a platform for providing health services. They also create safe and inclusive climates, and are crucial to preventing violence.”
Bryanna Mariñas, an activist from the Philippines and the founder of the Global Youth-Led Movement on Ending Violence Against Children, highlighted how closely connected education and health are, not least when it comes to preventing violence. “Children and young people do not see education and health as separate experiences. Take bullying, for example. When kids feel unsupported or unwell, it affects all aspects of their education. They might be present in the classroom, but their minds are somewhere else.”
Sabine Rakotomalala, Senior Technical Advisor with WHO, moderated the event, and reflected on how her own experiences of visiting schools across South Asia had shown both remaining challenges in promoting healthy learning environments – but also remarkable progress, showing what it possible with adequate support.