- A collaboration between AstraZeneca and Yayasan Plan International Indonesia to address non-communicable disease (NCD) prevention among young people
- The Programme will operate in 4 city districts in Jakarta: East, West, South and North
- The Programme builds on three years of successful implementation and results in Jagakarsa, Cibinong and Mataram, Indonesia between 2018 and 2020
31 May 2021 – Today, Yayasan Plan International Indonesia (Plan Indonesia) and AstraZeneca are pleased to announce the five year partnership extension and expansion of the Young Health Programme Indonesia, a global community investment initiative from AstraZeneca, focusing on young people and prevention of the most common non-communicable diseases (NCDs): cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases.
In Indonesia, young people between 10 and 24 account for over 25% of the total population[1][1], providing the country with a considerable socio-economic development opportunity. The period of adolescence is pivotal in reducing NCDs and maximizing health across all stages of life.
“Over the past three years, the YHP established successful collaborations with regional health offices and community stakeholders, and supported NCD prevention among young people in Jagakarsa, Cibinong and Mataram,” says Dini Widiastuti, Executive Director of Yayasan Plan International Indonesia. “We reached over 13,000 young people and 400,000 members of the wider community and our external evaluation illustrated positive results. For instance, 64% of young people reported to have access to youth friendly health services compared to 36% at baseline. We are very excited to continue focusing on NCD prevention among young people for another 5 years. We aim to strengthen our collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education and Culture, Ministry of Youth and Sports, National Population and Family Planning Board, the District and Regional Health Offices in Jakarta, and various civil society organisations. We are looking to build on the past successes of the YHP Indonesia, as we move into the 4 city districts in Jakarta, and to have a huge impact on long-term health outcomes for young people in Indonesia.”
The Young Health Programme addresses the primary NCD risk factors of tobacco use, harmful use of alcohol, physical inactivity, unhealthy diet and air pollution, as well as supporting the broader health and well-being of young people.
According to the World Health Organisation country profile of 2018, NCDs in Indonesia are estimated to account for 73% of all deaths, with cardiovascular disease and cancer being the leading cause of NCD-related deaths, accounting for 35% and 12% respectively[2][2].
“In commemoration of World No Tobacco Day, this joint campaign marks our continuous effort in creating safe environment for young people to quit smoking through youth-led campaigns and advocacy. By promoting better health choices, we aim to create a brighter life chances for young people in Indonesia,” Dini added.
The Young Health Programme Indonesia is a five-year programme that aims to contribute to the improved health and wellbeing of young people between 10-24 years of age in four city districts in Jakarta. Specifically, it aims to ensure that young people in Jakarta have increased knowledge about risk factors and NCD prevention, which gives them greater capacity to make informed decisions about their health, in the context of improved health services, an enabling support system and policy environment.
The Young Health Programme Indonesia hopes to directly reach more than 91,000 young people with health information and NCD prevention programming. Indirectly, it is expected to reach an additional 400,000 young people and 500,000 members of the wider community through campaigns, events and awareness raising activities.
An independent evaluation of the Young Heath Programme Indonesia found that its community-based delivery model and peer educator approach leads to sustained behaviour change among youth. The first phase of the programme resulted in a 40% increase of young people visiting Puskesmas (community health clinics), a 16% reduction in young people consuming alcohol and a 5% reduction in young people smoking. The evaluation results provided valuable insights to the overall impact of the Young Health Programme in Indonesia and what it is now delivering in communities.
Globally, the AstraZeneca Young Health Programme has reached more than 5 million young people in 30 countries since it was launched in 2010.
Sewhan Chon, President Director of AstraZeneca Indonesia said: “We are proud that Indonesia continues to be one of the priority countries in the Asia Area to deploy the Young Health Programme with the aim to protect the health of the next generation. The Young Health Programme is a prime example demonstrating our long-term commitment in aligning to the Government’s health priorities and supporting the delivery of the Government’s National Action Plan for the Prevention and Management of Non-communicable Diseases (RAN PP-PTM). We are delighted to continue this programme in Jakarta in collaboration with Yayasan Plan International Indonesia.”
For more information about the Young Health Programme, please go to the website:
www.younghealthprogrammeyhp.com
