According to WHO, 150 million young people smoke, 81% of adolescents are insufficiently active and 11.7% partake in toxic drinking – risky behaviors associated with NCD development and early deaths. In Cameroon, less than 11% of 50,000 people screened in 10 districts between 2017 -2019 were youths. These low levels of engagement in prevention are driven by limited problem awareness and little perception of how engagement contributes to some of their real needs for personal and career-related development. Young people, therefore, need expert guidance, support, and innovation to become meaningfully engaged both for themselves and for the future of humanity.
The N-NYAN is RADA’s youth focused NCD Action initiative meant to raise awareness among youths on non communicable diseases, support youths to walk the talk on NCDs and raise the youth voice in Cameroon. The ultimate end is for youths to reduce their risk of developing NCDs, help other youths, extend the impact through advocacy to the community through advocacy and build extremely relevant personal development and growth skills that will help them regardless of their professional aspirations.
The Action Network functions through NCD Change Groups, whose which seeks to mobilize youths in small groups of 10 or more, to effect NCD Actions in their communities.
The Networks get more interesting with the local actions that the NCD Change groups work with RADA to create in thier communities. Youths who join the network benefit not only from health related information and action for themselves and their community, but leadership, team work, and other desirable personal development skills are promoted. In addition to health and leadership training, specific entrepreneurial skills workshops are organized to provide the greatest needs of young people, personal and business development skills.
The program is yet to be sponsored but so far, sign ups and ground mobilization of youths has started.
Sign up using the link below to become a network member and join or start and NCD Change group, and benefit your own skills growth through leadership and participation.