When children are unwell, they cannot learn.

Meanwhile, we know that providing malaria prevention, school feeding, water and sanitation, deworming and comprehensive sexuality education in schools are all highly effective ways to increase enrollment – especially for girls and other vulnerable groups.

What is being done?

Last week, political leaders from around the world gathered at UN Headquarters in New York for the annual UN High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development under the theme of "transformation towards sustainable and resilient societies".

During this time, the governments of Ireland, Norway and Ghana, alongside the Global Partnership for Education and the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, held an event to shine a light on why keeping girls healthy and in school is fundamental for the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Ambassador Brian Flynn from Ireland opened the event and made the case for investing in both health and education. Girls who complete secondary school are better equipped to become healthier, more prosperous adults, with smaller families and children who are less at risk of illness and death and more likely to succeed. The data speaks for itself, with powerful synergies between the sectors. The challenge is not so much whether there should be greater collaboration but how it can be realized.

Powerful testimonies from young advocates

Mohamed Sidibay from Sierra Leone and Sonita Alizedah from Afghanistan both gave powerful testimony to highlight why solutions must be found. Mohamed's childhood was stolen from him during the cruel conflict in Sierra Leone.

"I am here today not to just tell you another sad story, but to remind you all that sometimes enough is all we need to do to change the life of a child," he said. "15 years ago, I watched the Revolutionary United Fronts murder my entire family. Soon after, the murderers of my family gave me an AK47 and presented me with what could only be described as Sophie's choice: kill or be killed. It was 1997 and I was only five years old. I have seen humanity at it lowest point…. But I am not a sad story. Quite the contrary. I am a story of what doing enough looks like. The quality and inclusive education I have received has saved me. I can't say the same for many girls in my home country of Sierra Leone and across the world."

Sonita shared a different story on the plight of so many girls in her country, where the expectation is that they should marry young.

"Growing up, my family couldn't see the value in school so I stayed home, learning to be a wife. That value was clear. My family would receive a dowry. They believed I would be protected by a husband. It was what generations of women in my family had done…. Child marriage traumatizes the bodies and minds of girls. And for what? All the girls I knew wanted to learn, wanted to stay in school. That is what I wanted, too."

Sonita was tenacious and lucky, and managed to secure her education, but it should not take extraordinary circumstances for a girl to be able to study instead of being forced to marry and start a family at a young age.

Ghana, Norway and the Global Fund share experiences

Ghana has made great strides in both health and education sectors and are focusing particularly on the needs of girls. Ambassador Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee shared, that in 2017 her government made universal secondary education free for all students. The student numbers have increased by 90,000 in the last academic year.

However, there are other barriers that prevent girls from accessing school and these are also being addressed, in some cases through targeted cash transfers. Other barriers such as access to separate toilets and washing facilities and school feeding programs are also addressed.

Norway has been a key partner in advocating for girls, supporting both health and education. Jens Frølich Holte, State Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway, said: "The numbers are crystal clear: Better education opportunities for girls improves the lives of millions of women, children and infants. Girls' education is a key priority in Norway's development policy. Each year of a mother's schooling reduces the probability of infant mortality by 5-10%."

Dr Marijke Wijnroks, Chief of Staff for the Global Fund, noted that ending HIV, tuberculosis and malaria was not something the health sector could do alone.

Girls who attend school are far less likely to catch HIV and have pregnancy-related complications, which stem from early childbearing.

GPE prioritizes girls' education AND health

Alice Albright shared GPE's approach: GPE provides grant funding for health activities in schools in 22 partner countries. This includes supporting countries to strengthen their capacity to design and implement comprehensive school health policies and encouraging partner countries to open their schools for health service delivery to support improved student health.

GPE has provided funding to train educators to carry out school-based health activities. Critically GPE is also championing the data revolution to generate information that can support best practice policy-making and planning. GPE is also sharing evidence, good practice and costing of priority health services with partner countries.

Health and education must go hand in hand

Healthy educated children are more likely to lead more fulfilled and productive lives. Achieving this outcome will require more strategic partnership across sectors, breaking down the barriers and silos that lead to inefficiencies and missed opportunities.

For every Sonita and Mohamed, there are millions of other girls and boys who are still unable to access their right to education and health.