THE RAHI 2024
Title: Enhancing Prevention through Meaningful Engagement, Innovations, and Leadership: Highlights from the Opening Ceremony and Breakaway Sessions

Introduction:

The highly anticipated conference on Enhancing Prevention through Meaningful Adolescent and Young People’s Engagement, Innovations, and Leadership kicked off with a powerful opening ceremony led by Conference Chair, Gloria Mululu Gathuru, and Co-Chair, Jeremiah Mulanda. The event began with a moment of silence to honor the memories of departed colleagues, setting the tone for a meaningful and impactful discussion.

Key Highlights from the Opening Ceremony:

– Executive Director Sibu Malambo emphasized the conference’s focus on building upon last year’s conversations, particularly around Age of Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) services.
– The Youth Platform has made significant strides in addressing this issue, including partnering with organizations to conduct regional training on Universal Health Coverage.
– The organization has also held pre-conference events, raised concerns about access to SRHR, and partnered with CSEM to train over 60 young people in a UHC workshop for advocacy.
– Collaborations with higher learning institutions aim to combat rising STI rates among university students, supporting the global goal of preventing and ending AIDS by 2030.
– A position paper outlining youth priorities will be released following the conference, demonstrating the organization’s commitment to amplifying young people’s voices.

Breakaway Sessions:

Later in the day, young people participated in side events (breakaway sessions) where various topics were discussed in smaller groups. These sessions provided a platform for in-depth conversations, idea-sharing, and networking among participants.

Conclusion:

The opening ceremony and breakaway sessions set the stage for a productive and engaging conference, emphasizing the importance of meaningful adolescent and young people’s engagement, innovations, and leadership in enhancing prevention. With a focus on building upon last year’s discussions and progress, this conference promises to drive change and promote a more inclusive and equitable healthcare system.