Description
Background:
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Kenya, contributing to 61.7% of hospital deaths in the 2024 Kenya Vital Statistics Report. Most NCD risk factors including tobacco use, harmful alcohol consumption, poor diet, and physical inactivity begin before age 25. The Young Health Programme (YHP), AstraZeneca’s community investment initiative, was implemented in Kenya (2021–2025) by Plan International with the Ministry of Health. It aimed to reduce NCD risk factors among young people (10–24 years) through Young People-Led community engagement and health promotion.
Methods:
Two approaches were applied:
1. Community engagement through peer education and mobilisation: Peer Educators delivered NCD prevention messages in schools and communities, equipping young people with knowledge and confidence to adopt healthier behaviours and seek services.
2. Health promotion through Young People-Led facility score-carding: Young People Advocates assessed 13 facilities using the Youth-Friendly Health Services (YFHS) Score Carding Tool across four domains: accessibility, service availability, confidentiality, and staff training. Findings informed joint action plans with health workers. In July 2024, the Whole Site Orientation Material (WSOM) was piloted in six facilities to build staff capacity for youth-friendly NCD service delivery.
Results:
From 2021–2025, YHP reached 91,767 young people, 39,143 male (42.7%) and 52,624 female (57.3%), with NCD prevention messages. In total, 182 health workers, 61 male (33.5%) and 121 female (66.5%), were trained or sensitised. Facility scores improved from 27/46 in March 2023 to 28/46 in March 2024 and 30/46 in March 2025, with gains in service availability and staff training supported by WSOM.
Conclusion:
The YHP shows community engagement and health promotion create a reinforcing model: mobilization drives demand for NCD services, while accountability and capacity-building ensure supply through youth-friendly facilities. This approach provides scalable evidence for integrating NCD prevention into Kenya’s primary health care strategies.
| Country | Kenya |
|---|---|
| Organization | Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) |
| Position | MERL Coordinator |
| Received a Grant? | No |
| If yes, give grant details | N/A |
