development.Health-enhancing behaviour is primarily the responsi- bility of young people themselves,who must increasingly take and effect decisions with major health consequences for the present and future.Young people often have little understanding of their own maturation,are unprepared for new relationships,and are unaware of health services available to them.But information is only half of the equation.Young people must ultimately use the information posi- tively.Young people who have developed personal competence,so- cial maturity,and a sense of identity and self-esteem are much more likely to make decisions which will positively affect their health and development(4).Broadly speaking,the success or failure of program- ming for the health and development of young people will depend upon two inextricably linked and overarching goals,namely to pro- mote healthy development and to prevent and respond to health problems. 2.2 Promoting healthy development The second decade of life is a period of rapid growth and personal development without which individuals cannot acquire the compe- tence needed to adapt to a diverse and changing world.Generally. competence develops whenever there are opportunities to practise certain skills by understanding and using social conventions.The ability to solve problems and anticipate the outcome of one's choices helps to develop a positive sense of self-efficacy and self-worth. Some characteristics of adolescence,such as stages of physical growth and development,appear to be universal.Others,such as vulnerabil- ity and resilience,depend on the interaction of the adolescent with his or her environment.The social environment can,thus,provide and present hazards to health and obstacles to development.Given the various factors such as the individual,family and community that influence the advancement of adolescent health and development, multifaceted adolescent health programmes stand a good chance of succeeding. Health policies and legislation can consolidate or limit healthy devel- opment.Over the last decade,health policies and legislation have focused on the prevention of problems through a three-tier approach to: -help the ill or injured; modify the beliefs,attitudes,behaviour and environment of those at risk: