Partnering with AstraZeneca

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Young Health Programme

Empowering young people to live healthy lives with AstraZeneca

In 2010, we partnered with AstraZeneca, a global, science-led biopharmaceutical business, to become a founding member of the Young Health Programme. Our work is focused on empowering young people in Brazil, India, Kenya, Indonesia, Vietnam, Myanmar and Thailand to live healthier lives and create change in their communities.

The Young Health Programme has a unique focus on young people and the prevention of the most common non-communicable diseases – NCDs. These include type 2 diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, and mental and neurological health conditions.

Working with other expert organisations and combining programming, research and advocacy, we work with young people aged 10 to 24 to address risk factors such as tobacco use, harmful use of alcohol, physical inactivity, an unhealthy diet and air pollution, that can lead to NCDs in adulthood.

Reaching young people and their communities

Between 2010 and 2020:

6,599

peer educators were trained through the Young Health Programme

658,469

young people were reached directly with health information

2,936,012

community members were reached indirectly through awareness raising

The Young Health Programme in Brazil

A boy stands in the street
20-year-old Shafly is a peer educator with the Young Health Programme in Indonesia. “There are so many smokers around me. It makes me really want to smoke again but I understand the dangers. Smoking does not bring anything positive into our lives.”

A holistic approach

We believe that a holistic approach is the most effective way to address NCD prevention and promote long-term health for young people.

As well as the five recognised NCD risk factors, tobacco use, harmful use of alcohol, physical inactivity, an unhealthy diet and air pollution, this approach includes sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and the emotional wellbeing of young people, and using a gendered approach to NCD prevention.

In this way, the programme addresses the impact of underlying social, economic, cultural and psychological factors and creates an environment in which young people have access to the support, information and services they need.

Photo of a girl in front of a brightly coloured wall
In Indonesia, Alvi used to be bullied because she has a disability – but the Young Health Programme has given her a new sense of confidence. “The programme has given me knowledge to help my friends live healthier lives and make better choices,” she says.

The benefits of peer education

The Young Health Programme uses peer education as the main strategy to build young people’s knowledge and skills on NCD prevention.

Once young people are trained, peer educators share what they have learned with other young people and wider community members including parents, teachers and health professionals.

Young people also become advocates for health and use their voice to influence government services and policies. Through the programme, we champion the prioritisation of young people’s health and the inclusion of NCD prevention in global policies and programmes.

Connecting and empowering young people

The Young Health Programme aims to improve the long-term health and wellbeing of young people through four interrelated and reinforcing strategies:

  1. Empowering young people by building their knowledge and capacity to protect and promote their long-term health, including NCD prevention, SRHR, gender and emotional well-being.
  2. Mobilising communities by increasing knowledge on NCD prevention among teachers, families and local leaders, to ensure a safe and supportive environment that facilitates healthy behaviour among young people.
  3. Strengthening the capacity of health facilities to support the health of young people, including the accessibility and quality of youth friendly services.
  4. Advocating for laws and policies which support NCD prevention and promote the broader health of young people.

Read more in our report celebrating 10 years of the Young Health Programme:

Download the report

‘I don’t feel dizzy anymore’

Through the Young Health Programme Ishita, 15, has learnt about the importance of healthy eating and having a balanced diet. Now she’s changed the way she eats and is no longer anaemic – and has become a peer educator for the programme in India too.

“I feel much healthier now and I don’t get dizzy anymore,” she says.

“I take meetings in the community and I also take sessions every Monday which has helped me gain confidence. I feel good about myself that I am teaching.”   

Discover more

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