HEAL-WELL: Integrated Health and Wellbeing

Promoting Holistic Health Solutions for Marginalized Communities

What is HEAL-WELL?

The Integrated Health and Wellbeing (HEAL-WELL) program is HEDSO's flagship health initiative dedicated to improving access to comprehensive primary health care for Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYWs), youth, and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) across 10 counties in Kenya. We address physical, mental, sexual, and reproductive health through inclusive, community-driven, and culturally sensitive approaches.

Our Vision for HEAL-WELL

We envision a Kenya where every AGYW, youth, and PWD can access quality, youth-friendly, and disability-inclusive health services without stigma, discrimination, or financial barriers—empowering them to live healthy, dignified, and fulfilled lives.

Why HEAL-WELL Matters

The communities we serve face critical health challenges that demand urgent action

🚨 High Teenage Pregnancy Rates

Counties like Homa Bay record 33% teenage pregnancy rates, among the highest in Kenya

⚠️ Sexual Exploitation

The "Jaboya" (sex-for-fish) practice in Lake Victoria fishing communities exposes AGYWs to HIV, GBV, and economic exploitation

🧠 Mental Health Crisis

Youth face depression, substance abuse, and suicidal tendencies due to joblessness, stigma, and lack of psychosocial support

♿ PWD Exclusion

Persons with disabilities are severely marginalized, often excluded from health services and facing physical and attitudinal barriers

🏥 Limited Service Access

Under-resourced health facilities with shortages of workers, medicines, and disability-friendly infrastructure

🚧 Cultural Barriers

Traditional beliefs and patriarchal norms limit health-seeking behaviors, especially for SRHR and mental health

HEAL-WELL transforms health systems and communities to ensure no one is left behind.

Our Strategic Objectives (2025-2030)

Five transformative objectives driving comprehensive health solutions

🏥

Objective 1.1: Youth & Disability-Friendly Health Services

Goal: Increase access to integrated primary health care services by establishing and strengthening at least one youth- and disability-friendly service delivery point in each sub-county of targeted 10 counties.

What We Do:

  • Advocate for strengthening youth and disability-friendly service delivery points in each sub-county
  • Train at least 10,500 village-based Community Health Promoters and health facility staff on inclusive service provision and client-centered care
  • Deploy at least one mobile clinic targeting remote sugar-belt and fishing communities
  • Equip facilities with ramps, assistive devices, inclusive signage, and essential equipment
  • Ensure services integrate SRHR, mental health, maternal health, and disability care

Expected Impact:

  • 100% of sub-counties with functional youth and disability-friendly service points by 2030
  • 50% increase in service utilization by youth and PWDs
  • 80% client satisfaction rate among beneficiaries
👥

Objective 1.2: Community Health Champions

Goal: Strengthen capacity of 1,000 young community health champions and peer educators to deliver inclusive and culturally sensitive health education and psychosocial support.

What We Do:

  • Develop 500,000 comprehensive community/family health education resource packs
  • Facilitate 1,000 county-based youth mentorship forums on psychosocial first aid
  • Support at least 1,000 peer-led community outreach forums on SRHR and mental health awareness
  • Train peer educators using participatory, youth-friendly methodologies
  • Establish support networks for teenage mothers, young widows, and PWDs
  • Build capacity of champions to conduct home visits, health talks, and community mobilization

Expected Impact:

  • 1,000 peer educators and champions trained and active by 2026
  • 5,000 outreach/education sessions conducted by 2028
  • 60% of primary health facilities adopt inclusive health education programs by 2030
  • Significant reduction in stigma around SRHR and mental health
🔍

Objective 1.3: Early Detection & Screening

Goal: Improve early detection and management of health conditions by integrating routine screening for mental health wellness and SRHR needs into at least 60% of primary health care facilities.

What We Do:

  • Influence integration of mental health and SRHR screening services in level 2 health facilities
  • Conduct at least 100 community free health screening drives across 10 counties
  • Create community referral pathways with trained health promoters to county health facilities
  • Provide screening tools and guidelines for disability-inclusive assessments
  • Train health workers on routine, non-stigmatizing screening protocols
  • Link identified cases to appropriate treatment, counseling, and support services

Expected Impact:

  • 60% of PHC facilities providing routine integrated screening by 2030
  • 30% increase in early detection of mental health and SRHR conditions
  • 75% client satisfaction with screening services
  • Measurable reduction in undiagnosed/untreated conditions among AGYWs, youth, and PWDs
📱

Objective 1.4: Digital Health Platforms

Goal: Develop and roll out youth-friendly digital GBV response, health education, and referral platform providing accurate, age-appropriate, and disability-accessible content for at least 1 million young people.

What We Do:

  • Develop multilingual, disability-friendly mobile app and USSD platform
  • Train 500 community-based organizations on digital reporting and content creation for SGBV campaigns
  • Run interactive social media campaigns targeting youth with SRHR, GBV, and health tips
  • Provide 24/7 access to confidential counseling, health information, and emergency referrals
  • Partner with telecom providers for zero-rated access to health content
  • Integrate text-to-speech, sign language videos, and simplified language for accessibility

Expected Impact:

  • 1 million unique youth users engaged by 2030
  • 150,000 average monthly active users
  • 60% of users report increased knowledge of SRHR and mental health
  • 40% utilize referral services through the platform
  • Reduction in misinformation on SRHR among target youth
💬

Objective 1.5: Stigma Reduction & Community Awareness

Goal: Reduce stigma, stereotypes, and discrimination around mental health and SRHR among AGYWs and PWDs through targeted community awareness campaigns and stakeholder dialogues.

What We Do:

  • Conduct 1,000 school and community-based dialogue forums in learning institutions
  • Train 500 community-based organizations on using theatre, poetry, and drama for lived experience sharing
  • Train and engage at least 5,000 young religious and cultural leaders as health and behavior change champions
  • Facilitate safe spaces for survivors and people with lived experience to share stories
  • Conduct media campaigns challenging harmful stereotypes and promoting inclusion
  • Build partnerships with traditional and religious leaders to shift community norms

Expected Impact:

  • 40% increase in positive community attitudes toward AGYWs and PWDs by 2028
  • 30% increase in AGYWs and PWDs accessing services without fear of discrimination
  • 60% reduction in stigma and discrimination scores by 2030
  • 5 county-level policies adopted supporting inclusion and stigma reduction
  • Sustainable community structures addressing stigma remain functional beyond 2030

Our Implementation Strategies

Proven approaches delivering sustainable health outcomes

🤝

Partnership with County Health & Education Departments

Ensuring integrated service delivery and policy alignment

🏫

School-Based Programs

Targeting adolescents with age-appropriate SRHR and mental wellness content

📱

Digital Health Platforms

Mobile health (mHealth) for remote counseling, mental health support, and referrals

💬

Community Health Dialogues

Reducing stigma and building trust around mental health and disability

♿

Disability Inclusion Toolkits

Assessing and strengthening service accessibility

👥

Peer-to-Peer Health Ambassadors

Leading localized health interventions and feedback loops

🚑

Mobile Clinics

Reaching remote fishing communities and sugar-belt areas with limited facility access

Key Health Issues We Address

Comprehensive health solutions across multiple domains

❤️

Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR)

  • Comprehensive sexuality education
  • Family planning and contraception
  • Prevention of teenage pregnancy
  • Safe motherhood and maternal health
  • Prevention and management of STIs including HIV
  • Menstrual health and hygiene management
🧠

Mental Health and Psychosocial Support

  • Depression and anxiety management
  • Substance abuse prevention and support
  • Suicide prevention
  • Trauma counseling for GBV survivors
  • Psychosocial first aid
  • Peer support groups
🛡️

Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Response

  • Survivor support and referral services
  • Legal aid linkages
  • Safe spaces for reporting and healing
  • Community awareness on consent and rights
  • Economic empowerment for survivors
♿

Disability-Inclusive Health

  • Accessible health facilities and services
  • Assistive devices and technology
  • Disability-sensitive health education
  • Inclusion of PWDs in all health programs
  • Training health workers on disability etiquette and care
🏥

Primary Health Care

  • Preventive care and health promotion
  • Nutrition and food security
  • Communicable disease prevention
  • Non-communicable disease screening
  • Water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH)

Who We Serve

👧 Adolescent Girls and Young Women

Ages 10-24 facing high pregnancy rates, GBV, and limited SRHR access

🤱 Teenage Mothers

Needing psychosocial support, maternal health services, and life skills

👨‍🦱 Youth

Ages 18-35 struggling with mental health, unemployment-related stress, and substance abuse

♿ Persons with Disabilities

Excluded from mainstream health services and facing mobility/communication barriers

🎣 Fishing Communities

With heightened vulnerabilities to transactional sex, exploitation, and health risks

🌾 Sugarcane Communities

Facing economic vulnerabilities and limited access to health services

🎒 Out-of-School Youth

Lacking access to health education and youth-friendly services

Target Counties

Reaching 10 counties across Kenya with comprehensive health solutions

Kisumu
Siaya
Kakamega
Bungoma
Busia
Migori
Homa Bay
Kwale
Tana River

Expected Impact by 2030

Measurable outcomes transforming health systems and communities

100+
Functional youth and disability-friendly service points
10,500
Community Health Promoters trained and actively serving
1,000
Peer educators conducting health education
1M
Young people reached through digital health platforms
60%
Of PHC facilities providing routine screening
50%
Increase in service utilization by youth and PWDs
60%
Reduction in stigma and discrimination
80%
Client satisfaction rate among beneficiaries

Our Track Record (2017-2025)

Proven impact delivering health solutions to marginalized communities

49,940
Beneficiaries reached through various health programs
20
Support groups established for teenage mothers
13,620
Students reached with mental health and SRHR information
77
Duty bearers engaged on health policy and service delivery
568
Teen mothers trained and supported with economic empowerment
100+
Community health screening drives conducted

Strong partnerships with county health departments, schools, and community structures have enabled us to deliver sustainable health outcomes across Kenya.

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