Young people
Young people are excluded from many public health interventions and international goals because they are perceived to be free from the health risks of early childhood and far from illnesses associated with old age.
However, young people are particularly vulnerable to many diseases, especially sexually transmitted infections, such as HIV/AIDS.
Two-thirds of the people living with HIV in Africa are 15-24 years old.
AMREF recognizes that young people can make responsible decisions about their own health if given appropriate information, services, and support. With support, they can also motivate others to make safe decisions and claim their rights to health.
AMREF’s work with young people
AMREF is educating young people about HIV prevention in a youth-friendly way. Teachers and health workers use song, dance, and dramas to make health education interactive, appealing, and relevant. We have found that young people are enthusiastic about becoming involved in the outreach.
In Tanzania, we are educating half a million school children about sexual and reproductive health through our MEMA Kwa Vijana (Good things for young people) project in order to prevent early and unwanted pregnancies and the spread of HIV.
In Nairobi, Kenya, we are helping street children go to school and access vocational training opportunities, as well as providing them with basic health services and information.
In Ethiopia, we are running youth centers and offering training courses in hairdressing and metalwork. We are also providing quality information on sexual and reproductive health.
In Northern Uganda, AMREF is focusing on girls’ education. In Kitgum, girls are learning about nutrition, personal hygiene, and sanitation as well as malaria and HIV/AIDS prevention. AMREF is also training local teachers in biology, chemistry, and physics to provide girls with an academic foundation for a career in health care.
We are encouraging young people to be tested for HIV by advertising our services in nightclubs and on radio programs. By involving as many young people as possible, we are helping to reduce the stigma attached to the disease.
In the long-term, AMREF is trying to close the gap that exists between young people and the district authorities offering health services. In Kabale, Uganda, for example, we are empowering young people to demand better health services and urging district authorities to deliver them.
Projects and stories
- MEMA Kwa Vijana HIV youth education project, Tanzania
- Dagoretti child in need project, Kenya
- Kabale youth empowerment project, Uganda
- Angaza HIV testing project, Tanzania
