Young Health Programme Kenya

Location

Nairobi and specifically the villages of:

  • Kianda, Kichinjio, Mashimoni, Kambi Muru and Soweto East Kibera and Mathare in Kibera

  • Kiamutisya, Village 2, Kosovo, Mathare 3B, Mathare 3A, Mathare 3C, Gitathuru, Mathare 4B, Number 10, Mathare 4A, Mashimoni, Kwa Karuiki and Mabatini in Mathare

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    Timing

    2021 - 2025

    The context

    Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) account for 27% of all deaths in Kenya, with a 13% risk of premature death between 30 and 70 years. Cancer and cardiovascular disease are the leading cause of death, accounting for 10% and 8% respectively1.

     

    Our objectives

    Improve the health and well-being of young people by increasing their knowledge on NCD prevention, increasing their capacity to make informed decisions about their health, improving health services and advocating for a supportive policy environment for young people.

    The direct beneficiaries of the programme are 88,182 young people aged 10-24 and over 1,912 teachers, parents, health professionals and government and civil society stakeholders from the targeted villages in Nairobi’s Kibera and Mathare informal settlements, who will be reached through working with schools, families, health facilities and other community structures.

    An additional 400,000 young people aged 10-24 and 196,000 members of the wider community will be reached indirectly through campaigns, events and other YHP awareness raising activities, in the targeted villages in Nairobi’s Kibera and Mathare informal settlements. 

    Our programme

    1. Empower young people through building knowledge and skills on NCD prevention, enabling them to take informed decisions about their health, using peer education and community outreach.    

    2. Mobilise communities including schools, families and community stakeholders on NCD prevention and the broader health of young people, to create a supportive and enabling environment for young people.

    3. Strengthen health services to meet the needs of young people.

    4. Advocate for a policy environment that supports NCD prevention and promotes the broader health of young people.

    Our partners

    Plan International Kenya implements YHP interventions in the targeted communities in close collaboration with several civil society and government stakeholders to optimise impact and sustainability.

    1. WHO, 2018, Noncommunicable diseases country profiles 2018: Colombia. Available at https://www.who.int/nmh/countries/2018/col_en.pdf?ua=1 accessed January 2021