The Ugunja Youth Parliament has adopted smart advocacy strategies, mutual engagement and collaboration with duty bearers.... this is the only platform that ensures young people hold objective discussions every fortnight, voluntarily and with passion and commitment and ensuring that their concerns are addressed
In this county, there are continuously high rates of HIV, malaria, maternal mortality and teenage pregnancy. In response to these public health challenges, UYP engaged in consistent community debates in 2018 to identify the gaps in health and social systems that were directly and indirectly contributing to rise in HIV infections and teen pregnancy among youth in the county. The debates also unearthed rampant sexual abuse, stigma surrounding contraception, unrestricted distribution of alcohol and illegal drugs, and an overall weak health management system. As a result, the county’s budget allocation to youth sexual reproductive health programs was eventually increased.
The initiative Omondi founded replicates the actual parliament and mobilizes the youth to voluntarily and progressively participate in social accountability through aggressive budget advocacy. Under Omondi’s leadership, the initiative’s model was at the Africa Health Agenda International Conference (AHAIC) in Kigali, Rwanda. At 35 years old, he has demonstrated exceptional leadership in fighting for improved health systems he has become a passionate crusader youth sexual reproductive health.