Mental Health Project for Adolescents in Kenya

Challenge
Young people under the age of 20 make up 52% of the population in this region of Kenya and there is no adolescent health center they can access. Youth in sub-Saharan Africa are being disproportionately affected by the HIV epidemic, and adolescent girls and young women are 50% more likely to acquire HIV than their male peers. By the age of 19, 40% of young women in Kenya are bearing children, without access to adequate care. Adolescents require services that are responsive to their unique needs.

Solution
Building a youth friendly and safe space will give 1000's of rural and slums young people access to a non-judgmental, multidisciplinary healthcare team, with specialized reproductive health services and HIV care. With a large adolescent population in this region, the development of a specialized adolescent health center is crucial to provide the care they need.

Long-Term Impact
Our goal is to become a leader and model of adolescent healthcare provision in this rural and slums region of Kenya. We aim to build local capacity in a sustainable manner by providing a platform to educate future OB/GYNS, pediatricians, nurses, social workers and counselors on providing adolescent-friendly care. It is our hope we will reduce a number of unwanted pregnancies, increase sexual and reproductive health knowledge, reduce suicide and care options, and prevent new HIV infections in young people in western Kenya.