Discover how Safari Doctors and Medic's Youth Health Ambassador app is revolutionizing healthcare access in Kenya's remote communities by empowering young leaders and streamlining data tracking.
Reaching marginalized communities: A youth-driven approach
Safari Doctors, an award-winning organization, delivers community-driven healthcare to some of Kenya’s most remote, insecure, and underserved regions.
Since 2020, Safari Doctors has reached over 51,445 patients in communities across Lamu, Garissa, and Tana River counties, whose isolation and instability restrict access to primary health care services. With a mission to strengthen community health systems and workers, Safari Doctors combines grassroots outreach and youth-led initiatives to bring quality healthcare closer to those who need it most.
“Our mission goes beyond just healthcare access—we strive to empower local communities and young people to take charge of their own health,” said Amina Mohamed, Program Officer at Safari Doctors.
Digital transformation through the Youth Health Ambassador app
Recognizing the need for a robust digital solution to streamline data collection and improve health service delivery, Safari Doctors partnered with Medic to create a custom app, powered by the Community Health Toolkit (CHT).
The app was developed for the Youth Health Ambassadors (YHA) program, a group of dedicated young leaders who channel community outreach, health education, and school and youth services to tackle a spectrum of challenges including sexual and reproductive health, substance abuse, antenatal care, immunization, non-communicable diseases, and nutrition.
“The Youth Health Ambassadors (YHA) program is a testament to the power of grassroots engagement in building healthier futures,” Amina continued.
Medic and Safari Doctors leveraged human-centered design and the CHT framework and community to develop the YHA app, incorporating customized workflows to enhance how care is delivered.
Launched in September 2024, the app enables 60 YHAs to track their activities, conduct follow-ups in the community, and collect real-time data. The user-friendly interface and dedicated dashboards transform how key health metrics are recorded and analyzed to support data-driven decision-making and continuity of care.
Building capacity and sustaining impact
To ensure effective use of the app, Medic held a comprehensive two-day training in Lamu, equipping YHAs with guides, materials, and skills to maximize the app’s capabilities. This support, combined with post-training mentorship via social media channels, enabled the YHAs to collaborate, troubleshoot, and share insights through videos and other multimedia resources.
Looking ahead: Innovating for a healthier future
By investing in digital solutions and the young leaders who understand the unique challenges facing their communities, the YHA app is revolutionizing community health outreach.
This digital transformation is just the beginning. As they scale the application, it will integrate more YHAs, services, and interoperability with existing systems to advance Universal Health Coverage and improve health outcomes in Kenya’s marginalized communities.
Together, we are bringing healthcare to where it’s needed most and ensuring that no one is left behind.