Key Summary:
- AstraZeneca will donate $15.1m to its youth health initiative.
- The programme aims to reach 7 million more young people.
- The new pledge takes investment to over $100m.
AstraZeneca’s Young Health Programme (YHP) will enter a new five-year phase with UNICEF, backed by a $15.1m donation. This will take AstraZeneca’s total YHP investment above $100m since 2010.
The programme helps young people in underserved areas prevent non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease and lung disease. It aims to help them make informed health choices and take action to protect their health.
The new phase will build on work in Indonesia, Brazil, South Africa, Belize and Jamaica. It will also expand the partnership to Egypt and Thailand.
New targets for 2030
By 2030, YHP aims to reach 7 million more young people. It will also support 2,000 schools and community centres, train 2,500 frontline workers and 750,000 youth advocates, and help shape at least 17 public policies.
The partnership will focus on youth-led action, health equity and the health effects of climate change. UNICEF and AstraZeneca said young people can be hit hard by these issues, but can also help drive change.
The work will also address key NCD risk factors, such as poor diet, a lack of physical activity, tobacco and alcohol use and air pollution.
Community initiatives will additionally be supported, aiming to give young people the skills and knowledge to positively influence those around them.
Programme has expanded since 2010
AstraZeneca set up YHP in 2010 with Plan International and Johns Hopkins School of Public Health. Since then, the programme has grown in both size and scope.
AstraZeneca and UNICEF began working together on YHP in 2019. Their work first spanned Angola, Belize, Brazil, Indonesia, Jamaica, Papua New Guinea and South Africa.
Over the past six years, the partnership has reached more than 23 million young people. It has also trained more than 300,000 youth advocates and helped them shape 29 laws and policies.
The new funding will build on this work, with a focus on health, youth advocacy and policy change through to 2030.
Featured image: Sukjai Photo on Adobe Stock
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