BACKGROUND
West and Central Africa face persistent challenges in equitable access to reliable health information, particularly among rural populations, adolescents, young women, and communities affected by poverty, conflict, and weak health infrastructure. Yet, young people represent a substantial resource for addressing these gaps. UNICEF estimates that 196 million people aged 10–24 live in West and Central Africa, including approximately 142 million adolescents aged 10–19. Their influence within families, schools, social networks, and digital communities offers an important opportunity to strengthen health literacy and community health systems. Health literacy extends beyond receiving information; it involves the ability to access, understand, assess, and apply it to health decisions. Without these competencies, individuals remain vulnerable to misinformation, delayed treatment, vaccine hesitancy, and harmful health practices.
YOUTH AS TRUSTED HEALTH COMMUNICATORS
Young people can serve as peer educators, community mobilisers, and trusted intermediaries between health professionals and their communities. Through school health clubs, youth associations, community radio, WhatsApp groups, and local-language discussions, they can communicate verified information on immunisation, malaria prevention, nutrition, menstrual health, HIV prevention, mental health, and sexual and reproductive health. Consider a rural community in Nigeria where rumours circulate that childhood vaccines cause infertility. Trained youth advocates, working with primary healthcare staff and respected community leaders, could organise small-group discussions, explain vaccine benefits in the local language, refer technical questions to qualified health workers, and direct parents to immunisation services. The example illustrates how trusted relationships, accurate information, and accessible services must work together.
Digital platforms provide additional opportunities, but also carry risks. Youth advocates should verify claims against credible sources, including ministries of health, the World Health Organization (WHO), and recognised public health institutions, before sharing them. They should correct misinformation respectfully, protect personal information, and avoid presenting themselves as medical professionals.
HEALTH SYSTEMS STRENGTHENING AND SUSTAINABILITY
Youth engagement should be integrated into primary healthcare, school health programmes, community health structures, and national risk communication strategies rather than treated as a temporary project. Training should cover health information appraisal, communication skills, confidentiality, safeguarding, referral procedures, and misinformation monitoring. Practical accountability matters. Programmes should track the number of youth trained, community sessions conducted, referrals completed, misinformation reports addressed, and changes in knowledge and health-seeking behaviour. Youth representatives should participate in programme design and evaluation.
Sustainability also requires modest but dependable financing, supportive supervision, accessible learning materials, and recognition of young people's contributions. Partnerships among governments, civil society organisations, educational institutions, health workers, and development agencies can embed youth-led communication within existing systems.
CONCLUSION
Youth empowerment for health information and literacy is an investment in stronger health systems and long-term development. Evidence reviewed by UNICEF across 60 studies highlights the potential of peer and adult community health workers to build trust, reduce stigma, and improve access to adolescent health support. However, young communicators cannot substitute for functioning health services, qualified professionals, or government responsibility.
For West and Central Africa, the priority is to institutionalise meaningful youth participation, connect peer education to primary healthcare, and finance sustained training, supervision, and evaluation. These measures can improve health-seeking behaviour, strengthen community resilience, and advance universal health coverage and Sustainable Development Goal 3.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
UNICEF. (2025). Harnessing Community Health Workers to Improve Adolescent Health and Well-being in Africa: Evidence and Recommendations. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30673732/
World Health Organization. (2025). Health Literacy. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/health-literacy
UNICEF. Youth-led Action in West and Central Africa. UNICEF regional programme. https://www.unicef.org/youthledaction/west-and-central-africa
Salam, R. A., Hooda, M., Das, J. K., Arshad, A., Lassi, Z. S., Middleton, P., & Bhutta, Z. A. (2016). Interventions to improve adolescent nutrition: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Adolescent Health, 59(4 Suppl), S29–S39. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2016.06.022
Peer-facilitated community-based interventions for adolescent health in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review. (2019). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30673732/
“Technological tools, including computers, search engines, statistical software, AI, and other digital applications routinely employed in contemporary scholarship, assisted in the preparation of this work. However, the conceptualization, analysis, interpretation, verification of information, conclusions, and responsibility for the content remain solely those of the author.” - Dr. Uzodinma Adirieje; CEO/Programmes Director, Afrihealth Optonet Association (AHOA), and President, African Refugees Council (ARC).
HIFA profile: Dr. Uzodinma Adirieje is a leading voice in health education, community health, and advocacy, with decades of experience advancing people-centered development across Africa and beyond. His approach to health education emphasizes participatory learning, knowledge transfer, and behavior change communication, ensuring that individuals and communities gain the skills and awareness to make informed decisions about their health. He develops and delivers innovative health promotion strategies tailored to local realities, particularly in resource-limited settings. In community health, Dr. Adirieje has championed integrated primary health care, preventive medicine, and grassroots health initiatives. Through Afrihealth Optonet Association (AHOA), which he leads, he connects civil society, community groups, and health institutions to strengthen healthcare delivery, tackle health inequities, and improve access to essential services for vulnerable populations. His work addresses infectious diseases, maternal and child health, nutrition, climate and health, environmental health, and emerging public health challenges. As a passionate advocate, Dr. Adirieje works with governments, NGOs, and international organizations to influence health policy, mobilize resources, and promote sustainable development goals (SDGs). He amplifies community voices, ensuring that health systems are inclusive, accountable, and responsive. His advocacy extends beyond health to governance, environment, and social justice, positioning him as a multidisciplinary leader shaping healthier and more equitable societies. afrepton AT gmail.com