NATIONAL YOUTH SYMPOSIUM FROM 4 TH TO 5 TH JULY 2004 AT GRAND REGENCY HOTEL

1. NATIONAL YOUTH SYMPOSIUMFROM 4TH TO 5TH JULY 2004 AT GRAND REGENCY HOTEL Thematic area: Youth and Health Supported and Funded by presented by: Johnah Josiah

2. What is health? Health is a state of being well and free from illness, physically, mentally, spiritually and psychologically.

3. Introduction Young People have faced a myriad of health related problems, including widespread malaria, malnutrition, HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), drug and substance abuse as well as poor access to health services. The HIV/AIDS pandemic is more prevalent among the youth under 30 years of age. Available statistics show that the youth make up 33% of Kenyans infected with Aids. AIDS among the youth is also a worrying issue. Research has shown that a large percentage of new HIV infection occurs among the youth. Those most affected are young women aged 25-29 and young men aged 30-34 years. Yet this age group has the most productive people in the society

4. Cont: 42 million people were living with HIV/AIDS by the end of 2002 5 million people were infected in 2002. More than 3 million children (0-14) are living with HIV/AIDS. 28 million have died from AIDS. More than 3 million died in 2002. 14 million children (0-14) have lost their mother or both parents due to AIDS. 8,219 AIDS deaths per day 13,699 new infections per day Reproductive health is one of the issues with the greatest impact on the youth. Some related problems and side effects include teenage pregnancies and abortion. Other common health problems are malaria and acute respiratory infections, which account for about a-half of out patient cases. Other diseases the youth grapple with include skin infections, intestinal worms and diarrhoea

5. Cont: The uneven distribution of health facilities in the country continues to widen disparities in affordability and access to medical care. Statistics indicate that 42% of the population has access to medical facilities within four kilometres and 75% within eight kilometres.Medical personnel are also too few to sufficiently address the health needs of the population, let alone those of the youth. Currently there is one doctor for every 33,000 people in the rural areas and 1,700 in the urban areas.Current health facilities are not youth-friendly. There is a need for facilities that offer preventive and curative health services for the youth. Information on health should be made available to the youth.

6. Cont: • The national youth policy strategic framework has proposed that the Government, private sector and civil society should: • Incorporate representatives of the youth in efforts to fight the spreadof HIV/AIDS in order to take into account the youth dimension to HIV/AIDS and target this group effectively; • Promote and support youth campaigns aimed at encouraging a change in sexual behaviour and discouraging drug and substance abuse, and negative peer influence; • Promote and establish home and community-based welfare programmes to help youth orphaned by HIV/AIDS;

7. Cont: Establish guidance and counselling units managed by the youth in all schools and other learning institutions Establish affordable rehabilitation centres to help youth addicted to drugs; Promote and enhance affordable or free counselling programmes on health-related issues, especially peer to peer counselling in faith based and institutions; Encourage parents to take a lead role in teaching and counselling their children on responsible sexual behaviour; Promote and support programmes on personal hygiene and physical fitness and mental health;  

8. Cont: Improve the technical and institutional capacity of youth organisations/CBOs to enable them to effectively advocate and promote health programmes for youth; Promote partnerships between the government, CSOs and the private sector to work with the youth; Improve access to voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) services for all youth. Enhance the youth’s capacity in leadership and advocacy to enable them to manage youth health programmes. Promote research in youth health areas and make the findings accessible.

9. Towards implementation of the proposed action plan the Ministry of Gender Sports Culture and social services through the Department of social cervices together with youth organisations and other youth serving organisations plan to achieve the following:

10. Objective 1 Reduce the rate of HIV/AIDS infection among the youth

11. Objective 2 Improve/establish accessible community based support programmes to address the needs of the youth infected and affected by HIV/AIDS

12. Objective 3 To reduce drug or substance abuse anddiscourage negative peer influence among the youth in order to promote responsible sexual behaviour

13. Objective 4 To increase access to comprehensivehealth information and services for young people

14. Objective 5 To promote youth/parent/ adults/ guardian communication on youth health issues

15. conclusion Quote by the un secretary-general “Normally when we need to know about something we go to the experts, but we tend to forget that when we want to know about youth and what they feel and what they want we should talk to them” Quote by Dr. Mamphele, Managing director, World Bank “young people should be seen as engines of growth rather than a problems to be addressed”