By Sharon Sitati

Young people face significant challenges in accessing sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services. One of the biggest challenges is the judgmental attitude of health workers in non-functional youth-friendly centres, which are supposed to be safe spaces for young people to access SRH services without feeling judged or discriminated against. Additionally, many youth-friendly centres are not well equipped with commodities that can meet the diverse needs of young people, such as different birth control methods or contraceptives. This can make it difficult for young people to access the services they need.

Limited access to affordable healthcare is another major challenge for young people. Many young people are unemployed and cannot afford services like those of a gynaecologist or psychologist. Moreover, limited budgets from governments and health systems mean that there is limited access to services that meet the needs of young people. This can be particularly challenging for young people living in rural areas, where access to services may be limited.

To address these challenges, the You(th) Care project focuses on three main pathways. The first involves supporting adolescent and youth-led actions that promote an enabling legal, political, and societal environment for vulnerable adolescents and young people to claim and access SRHR services, including self-care. The second pathway involves strengthening public and community health systems to improve access to and increase demand for SRHR and HIV information and services. The third pathway involves advocating for self-care interventions aimed at enabling individuals, families, and communities to promote their own health and well-being.

Gender inequality is another challenge faced by girls when it comes to accessing healthcare services. The You(th) Care project aims to promote an enabling legal environment that supports better access to SRHR information and services among young people, especially those at risk of poor HIV and SRHR outcomes. While the system needs to make and implement better policies around SRHR, young people should also take it as a personal responsibility to access services and information concerning their health. This includes being at the forefront in challenging the system to allocate more budget for SRHR and for better services.

Sharon Sitati is a youth advocate at NAYA Kenya