A health care provider discussing child spacing options with young people during a counseling session.
Aggrey Bushasha is a powerful advocate in his community of Trans-Nzoia County, Kenya. Known as both a community champion and a mentor, his passion for empowering young people is immediately apparent from the moment you meet him. He is deeply committed to creating opportunities for youth, particularly in improving their access to reproductive health education and services.
I am the sub-county community strategy focal person in Trans-Nzoia County, Kenya. I received my training from the national government on adolescent and youth sexual reproductive health (AYRSH) with continuous coaching from The Challenge Initiative (TCI).”
During the reproductive health training, Aggrey was drawn to adolescent healthcare through a desire to strengthen family planning education and services. When visiting the facilities, he witnessed firsthand the pain suffered by many young girls due to unintended pregnancies – pain that could have been avoided if they had received proper information on family planning. Additionally, many clients seeking other methods of family planning were turned away, further highlighting the urgent need for better access to reproductive health services.
The coaching by the TCI team changed my outlook. I knew I had an opportunity to improve the situation. I was lucky to be posted to Cherangany sub county after my training and I knew I had an opportunity to work with young people and help change their story.”
Family planning indicators in Trans-Nzoia are higher than the national averages, with teenage pregnancy at 18% and unplanned pregnancies also above the national average of 14% (Kenya Demographic Health Survey-KDHS 2022). Given these statistics, it was a clear decision for the health management team to focus on reducing teen pregnancies during their program design. A landscape analysis revealed that the lack of accurate information and services targeted at adolescents and youths was a major contributor to the problem.
Aggrey and his team began by identifying integration points for family planning and conducting whole-site orientations at facilities.
This is one thing that I like about TCI, the program strengthens the health systems from the inside making it sustainable. We coach one another on the best practices and even organize for health providers to visit areas that are performing well.”
With guidance from TCI Program Manager Levis Onsase, Aggrey leveraged resources from TCI University that could help them reach more young people. Aggrey was determined to achieve success beyond just providing family planning methods. He actively engaged community members to create new opportunities for young people, empowering them to enhance their livelihoods and secure a brighter future.
For instance, Aggrey collaborated with local institutions to form a youth group that now receives orientation from the Kenya Medical Training College in Cherangany. Additionally, he founded the Youth Champions Network, empowering young people to share accurate reproductive health information with their peers and supporting young mothers in returning to school after childbirth.
Being at the forefront of youth engagement has allowed Aggrey to lead a high-impact approach that others often find difficult to implement. His dedication to working with young people has earned him the trust and respect of his community.
As a youth, I took the initiative to raise awareness among my peers about AYSRH issues and teenage pregnancies. This can impact my brother, sister, or friends, and if we don’t address it now, these challenges will persist in the future.”
