Nakuru: The County Government of Nakuru, in collaboration with Youth for Sustainable World (YSW), is setting up youth-friendly clinics and centers at its healthcare facilities to address the needs of its youthful population. This initiative seeks to enhance service delivery points for improving the youth health experience and underscores Governor Susan Kihika's commitment to providing responsive, inclusive, and accessible healthcare for young people.
According to Kenya News Agency, County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for health services, Ms. Roselyn Mungai, stated that the County is mobilizing local, bilateral, and multilateral partnerships and resources to tackle youth health challenges. These challenges include teenage pregnancies, Female Genital Mutilation, drug abuse, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), and new HIV infections. The County is also collaborating with the national government and society to end new HIV infections, adolescent pregnancies, and SGBV.
The youth-friendly health initiative aims to address the needs of adolescents and align Nakuru County with national and international declarations and conventions that cater to specific populations. Facilities are being designed specifically to cater to adolescents and young people, offering health services in a non-judgmental and comfortable environment to attract those in need.
Ms. Mungai disclosed that the Youth Friendly Centers are being staffed with trained healthcare providers knowledgeable about youth health concerns, ensuring that healthcare is easily accessible to young people. The healthcare workers have been trained to provide adolescent-friendly services, including reproductive health information, family planning options, HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment, mental health support, and screening for common adolescent health issues.
Confidentiality practices are emphasized at the facilities to ensure young people feel safe sharing personal information with healthcare providers. Outreach programs and community engagement are also crucial in educating young people about available services and encouraging them to seek care.
Ms. Mungai highlighted Gilgil Sub-County Hospital, where the County government is revitalizing its Youth-Friendly Services (YFS) by providing integrated healthcare services to youth aged 18 to 24 years. A nurse trained in youth health concerns has been deployed at the facility to work alongside other health workers to enhance youth-friendly health services. The Njoro sub-county health facility is noted as the best Youth-Friendly health services model in the County.