Young people in places with high malaria burdens face unique struggles, yet they also have the potential to effect transformative change in their communities. Giving youth agency to play an active role in malaria prevention can lead to positive outcomes not only for public health but for the young people themselves – helping them to find their voice and regain agency and purpose in their lives. One success story shows how youth empowerment in a malaria-endemic setting can play out – and how motivated young people can cause a real stir.
The Context
Malaria is a constant issue for many residents of one malaria-endemic region in Kenya, namely Kisumu County. Despite its location along the shores of Lake Victoria, known to be the source of many incidents of malaria, residents of Kisumu County often do not know how to prevent it or are unable to access healthcare. However, in 2019, Kisumu County was also the site of a riotous and energized group of young people determined to make a change.
The Challenge
Kisumu County is located on the shores of Lake Victoria. The population is at very high risk of malaria due to the presence of stagnant water which is a breeding ground for Anopheles mosquitoes. Children, pregnant women, and the elderly are particularly vulnerable, and there is poor access to healthcare and a lack of public awareness.
Empowering Youth: The Initiatives
Formation of the Malaria Youth Ambassadors Program
In response, the local NGO Youth for Health and Change (YHC) inaugurated the Malaria Youth Ambassadors Program to build leadership capacity among the youth to change attitudes towards malaria prevention and care in their homes and communities.
- Training and education: The program first trained the youth volunteers who were nominated for the program. This training included information on malaria transmission and prevention, as well as how to effectively communicate these issues to others. Participants also learned project management and advocacy skills.
- Community Engagement: Equipped with knowledge and skills, the Youth Ambassadors went into their communities to reach out to others. They conducted school and community center educational workshops, distributed informational handouts, and showed people how to use ITNs.
Development of a Community-Based Campaign
Working with local health authorities, the group of youngsters elaborated their ‘Malaria-Free Kisumu’ campaign. This initiative included the establishment of new Miriwongo centers, activities to raise awareness and spread prevention advice and ways to involve the community further.
Social media campaign: The community ambassadors trained in the use of mobile phones, laptops, smartphones, and tablets to develop a vibrant social media campaign that used Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp to share information on malaria. This allowed the campaign to spread rapidly through text messaging, videos, infographics, and personal stories of those afflicted.
The ambassadors ran school programs and educated the children, making learning about malaria fun. They played quizzes and argued about malaria through role-playing. They ran art competitions.
Implementation of Local Health Initiatives
To complement their awareness efforts, the youth ambassadors initiated several health-focused projects:
- Dissemination of ITNs: The ambassadors partnered with local health ministries to organize net distribution campaigns in their communities. The Ambassadors distributed the nets to targeted families, gave instructions on use and maintenance, and did demonstrations.
- Clean-Up Drives: Ambassadors conduct a clean-up drive where they remove standing water from around the homes and public areas to bring down the mosquito population.
Community: The ambassadors established a community group to discuss problems, organize activities, and get to know each other. Health Screenings: With clinic staff, the ambassadors ran malaria screening events to catch cases early and match them with treatment.
The Impact
Increased Awareness and Engagement
The ‘Malaria-Free Kisumu’ campaign raised community awareness of malaria to unprecedented levels. The social media campaign reached thousands of people; the school programs engaged students and their families in preventive practices; the use of ITNs in the community increased; and the clean-up drives helped eradicate many breeding sites.
Improved Health Outcomes
ITN distribution as well as health screenings helped reduce the prevalence of malaria. Early diagnosis and treatment of the infected allowed for both infection control and a noticeable improvement in the overall health of a large portion of the community. It was reported that thanks to the progress made in recognizing and treating malaria cases, the number of malaria-related hospital visits significantly declined, resulting in an improvement in public health in the community.
Empowered Youth Leaders
Their engagement in the MTV Staying Alive program developed leadership, communication, and project management skills the youth ambassadors can use to further their careers. Making an impact of their own also imbued the youth ambassadors with pride and accomplishment.
Sustainable Change
The success of the Malaria Youth Ambassadors Program sent a broader message that found a receptive audience in communities facing similar challenges: when you engage youth in combating socio-environmental problems, lasting solutions are possible. Groups are being established around the world to share valuable lessons learned. For instance, they focus on developing strategies for public engagement, as well as methods for creating lasting change and promoting healthy behaviors. By collaborating and exchanging ideas, these groups aim to enhance their collective impact on health initiatives globally.
Lessons Learned
Third, youth engagement is key. Youth can help in innovative ways to find and implement malaria solutions, and they can help bridge gaps in community outreach. They are energetic, creative, and influential as peers.
- Training and Support are Necessary: to accomplish their responsibilities, youth volunteers must receive adequate training and ongoing support, including information, skills-building, and materials that will enable them to work effectively as advocates.
- Getting Communities Involved Equals Better Results: Successful malaria control must bring the whole community together through collaborative efforts involving various actors including communities and local organizations, along with health authorities.
- Leverage Technology and Media: Utilise social media and digital platforms for greater reach and focus. Framing messages to appeal to different audiences can help advocacy efforts.
Lastly, the success story of the Malaria Youth Ambassadors Program in Kisumu County provides evidence that when well-resourced, youth-led public health initiatives can succeed. Equipping youth with the knowledge, tools, and skills together with sustained support can put a large number of young people on the path towards transforming communities and help address some of the societal challenges associated with malaria-endemic regions. We hope that the success story of the Malaria Youth Ambassadors Program will inspire other interventions aimed at empowering youth to take charge of their health. Furthermore, we believe it can encourage the drive for public health initiatives on a larger scale in malaria-endemic countries. By showcasing this model, we aim to motivate similar efforts that engage young people in addressing critical health challenges.
