AstraZeneca Young Health Programme
A UNICEF partner since 2020
AstraZeneca YHP and UNICEF are working together to prevent non-communicable diseases among young people
Why we’re working together
UNICEF and AstraZeneca’s Young Health Programme are partnering to raise awareness of the risks and effects of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) – such as cardiovascular disease, preventable cancers and lung health conditions – among young people and key decision-makers. Today, countries are struggling to address the growing burden of NCDs, the number one cause of death worldwide.
Globally, 70 per cent of all deaths and 15 million premature deaths (at ages 30–69) are caused by NCDs – and 86 per cent of these deaths occur in lower-middle-income countries. The World Health Organization has found that 70 per cent of premature deaths from NCDs can be linked to behaviours that first appear in adolescents (source).
“We believe in the power of young people to change the trajectory of the staggering burden of disease we face today, all over the world. Improving the health outcomes of future generations is a critical part of developing strong and stable health-care systems, which in turn support sustainable markets and the economic prosperity of nations.”
What we’re doing
The partnership is galvanizing a global advocacy movement to reach more than 5 million young people, train 1,000 youth advocates and influence a minimum of 12 policies or laws around the world between 2021 and 2025. The aim is to catalyse a movement led by and for young people aged 10–24 to ensure that preventing NCDs is a government priority around the world and to encourage young people to have healthy lifestyles. The partnership is working in the these accelerator countries: Angola, Belize, Brazil, Indonesia, Jamaica, Papua New Guinea and South Africa.
What we’ve achieved
So far, the Young Health Programme and UNICEF have directly reached over 6 million adolescents and have indirectly reached over 46.2 million young people, meaning that over 55.9 million young people have unlocked progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 3.4 (Figure 1) during the past three years.
In addition, the Young Health Programme has trained more than 241,000 youth advocates and influenced 16 policies and laws to be more protective of adolescent health and NCD prevention in six countries. Young people are at the heart of the partnership, which is empowering adolescents to advocate, influence policy and demand accountability for issues linked to their health and well-being, catalysing global change in the space of NCD prevention and contributing to the progress of Sustainable Development Goal 3.4.
In Indonesia, 20 young advocates – including those from the National Children’s Forum and adolescents with disabilities – influenced a policy review and raised awareness about tobacco-free environments, particularly in schools.
In Brazil, 1,127 young people joined to agree on proposals for the fifth National Conference on Mental Health – as a result, 21 proposals were taken to the online national plenary.
In South Africa, young people co-designed an NCD communication campaign with representatives from the National Department of Health.
The Young Health Programme
AstraZeneca’s Young Health Programme is a global philanthropic community investment initiative that aims to empower young people to make more informed choices about their health and catalyse a global, youth-led advocacy movement. It is active in 40 countries worldwide, combining community programmes, research, advocacy and support for the development of young leaders, with a focus on vulnerable and under-resourced communities.
Through partnerships with more than 60 non-profit organizations including UNICEF, the Young Health Programme has directly reached more than 15 million young people and trained more than 580,000 youth as Peer Educators since its launch in 2010. In 2023, the programme reached more than 5 million young people through prevention and education programmes.
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Last updated 25 November 2024