The document discusses Act2Live, an organization working to address neglected health issues among vulnerable young people in Africa. Act2Live operates in 10 African countries, reaching over 2 million youth aged 13-35. It focuses on sexual health, mental health, drug/alcohol abuse, and access to healthcare. Act2Live empowers youth through peer educators and youth advocates. It also partners with organizations and involves health professionals. The work aims to improve health policies, address barriers to youth-friendly healthcare like distance and costs, and change attitudes through education. Act2Live evaluates programs and engages youth to improve health services across Africa.
3. The Africa Alliance of YMCAs
Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA)
a global movement, present in 119 countries,
established in 1884 – we celebrated being 170
years old on 6 June 2014!
Africa Alliance of YMCAs (AAYMCA) is a pan-African
youth development network with membership of
YMCAs in 20 countries,16 of which are very active.
ACT2LIVE
4. Change Agenda
ACT2LIVE
OUR VISION
Empowering young people for the African
Renaissance
OUR CHANGE PHILOSOPHY
“From Subject to Citizen” (S2C)
We work to move young people to become a
Citizen– where they understand the root causes
of problems and articulate informed views and
are part of positive change at various levels of
leadership.
OUR PROGRAMME THEMES
Civic Action Transformative Masculinity
Youth Justice Economic Renaissance
5. Our Presence in Africa & Our Health Interventions
2,121,469 youth
participants,10 countries
13-35 yrs old
Also with YWCA in
Zambia
6. Neglected Health Issues
Our broadened definition: Those diseases and issues that affect
vulnerable youth living in low income and rural parts of Africa’s
countries.
ACT2LIVE
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Sexual health
Mental health
Drug & alcohol abuse
Access to health services
Fistula
Lifestyle illnesses
7. Vulnerable Youth
ACT2LIVE
Commercial sex workers Survivors of political violence
Youth living in the street Young people in conflict with the
law (including ex-offenders)
Youth living with/affected by
HIV/AIDS
Young people affected by conflicts
and violence (including ex-
combatants)
Youth with disability Youth people living in slums
Orphans
9. Our Work involves: Youth advocates
ACT2LIVE
Peer Educators
Associations pour la Promotion de la
Santé des Jeunes de Thiès (RAPSAJET)
10. Our Work involves: Partnerships
ACT2LIVE
Associations pour la Promotion de la
Santé des Jeunes de Thiès (RAPSAJET)
Youth advocates
In Madagascar & Liberia: Mobilsing
young people, stakeholders in
implementation of the programmes
In Zambia: Distribution of condoms
during project events
11. Our Work involves: Health Service
Professionals
ACT2LIVE
Peer Educators Youth advocates
13. ACT2LIVE
2. Accountability of Policy Making
Africa Youth Charter (2006)
Maputo Protocol (2007)
National youth policies
Liberia National Youth Policy (2012-2017)
Zambia Health Strategic Plan (2011-2015)
Zimbabwe National Youth Policy (2000)
Togo Youth Policy (2007)
Madagascar
Senegal
National Health Sector Strategies and Plans
14. Peer Educators in Carion, Madagascar volunteering at the local health centre
15. ACT2LIVE
3. Barriers to Youth-Friendly Services
(a) Structural barriers: Distance, Personnel, medicines
and equipment
(a) Financial barriers: ability to pay for services. Even
where consultation is free or subsidized, medicines
will not be for free.
(a) Cognitive barriers: Beliefs and knowledge,
Communication in the patient-provider encounter, and
culture.
16. ACT2LIVE
4. KAPB - Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice and
Behaviour
“…female health workers ring
insults at young female patients
problems openly and even laugh
about them with their
colleagues…”
- FGD participant in Madagascar
17. ACT2LIVE
• Critical evaluation of cost of health
services
• Training of health service providers on
provision of youth friendly information and
services
• Youth engagement in health sector
dialogue
19. Be a Citizen!
Am a youth with a dream, so I will rise
up, stand up, for my rights.
Take me as a part of you
Don’t see me as subject but a citizen
and together we will rise
ACT2LIVE
Structural barriers especially impact youth with disabilities. In Senegal for instance there health facilities do not have ramps and other features that make the facility accessible for people with disabilities.
In Madagascar, the CRC showed that because the clinic was not always clean, many people opted not to go to hospital.
No. 2 Madagascar example where young people feel they have to dress well to go see the doctor
Discuss points on next slide as part of this slide.
30 years implementing programmes responding to youth health concerns
Goal to break the cycle of poor access to health services and treatment of illness among youth in Africa.
About demanding of duty bearers, as well as encouraging action of citizens to make use of those services – for services to be available, there must be evidence of demand
Link to Togo YMCA video (1:36)
Zambia: The Zambia National Health Strategic Plan 2011-2015 talks about strategies to address issues that mostly affect the youths including HIV/AIDS, Malnutrition, Malaria and hygiene as far as they affects people in general and does not indicate how these would be addressed in the context of youths
As it strategy objective speaks to improve the mental and reproductive health; and social welfare status of all young men and women in Liberia on an equitable basis. A such, there are some intervention to be used;
Liberia: As it strategy objective speaks to improve the mental and reproductive health; and social welfare status of all young men and women in Liberia on an equitable basis. A such, there are some intervention to be used; promotion of safe sexual and reproductive health, training of peer educators and youth friendly counsellors, production of IEC Materials, ensure the availability of mental health care and rehabilitation facilities
Zimbabwe: Coordination of policies relating to youth and health e.g the National Population Policy and National Reproductive Health policy, pomote Youth Friendly Services Provision such as peer education, enlist support of Private Sector and NGOs, IEC Materials, empowering community members to address youth issues, address barriers to access to health services for youth
In Madagascar and Senegal for instance, this is not the case.
Structural barriers especially impact youth with disabilities. In Senegal for instance there health facilities do not have ramps and other features that make the facility accessible for people with disabilities.
In Madagascar, the CRC showed that because the clinic was not always clean, many people opted not to go to hospital.
No. 2 Madagascar example where young people feel they have to dress well to go see the doctor
Structural barriers especially impact youth with disabilities. In Senegal for instance there health facilities do not have ramps and other features that make the facility accessible for people with disabilities.
In Madagascar, the CRC showed that because the clinic was not always clean, many people opted not to go to hospital.
No. 2 Madagascar example where young people feel they have to dress well to go see the doctor
Structural barriers especially impact youth with disabilities. In Senegal for instance there health facilities do not have ramps and other features that make the facility accessible for people with disabilities.
In Madagascar, the CRC showed that because the clinic was not always clean, many people opted not to go to hospital.
No. 2 Madagascar example where young people feel they have to dress well to go see the doctor
Structural barriers especially impact youth with disabilities. In Senegal for instance there health facilities do not have ramps and other features that make the facility accessible for people with disabilities.
In Madagascar, the CRC showed that because the clinic was not always clean, many people opted not to go to hospital.
No. 2 Madagascar example where young people feel they have to dress well to go see the doctor
Structural barriers especially impact youth with disabilities. In Senegal for instance there health facilities do not have ramps and other features that make the facility accessible for people with disabilities.
In Madagascar, the CRC showed that because the clinic was not always clean, many people opted not to go to hospital.
No. 2 Madagascar example where young people feel they have to dress well to go see the doctor
Structural barriers especially impact youth with disabilities. In Senegal for instance there health facilities do not have ramps and other features that make the facility accessible for people with disabilities.
In Madagascar, the CRC showed that because the clinic was not always clean, many people opted not to go to hospital.
No. 2 Madagascar example where young people feel they have to dress well to go see the doctor