YHP Impact Fellowship

Non-communicable disease prevention

A Somali public health leader, researcher, and advocate, Abdirezak is Founder and Executive Director of the Somalia NCD Alliance (SNCDA), National Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Coordinator and NCD and Mental Health Senior Advisor at the Federal Ministry of Health, and Senior Lecturer and Research Convener at Benadir University.

His work spans non-communicable disease (NCD) prevention, mental health, digital health, and health system strengthening, with a focus on equitable, people-centred services in fragile and resource-constrained settings. As an author of peer-reviewed publications, he bridges evidence, policy, and practice to develop sustainable solutions for underserved populations.

A key milestone in his career was leading the National Symposium on Digital Transformation in NCD Management, advancing modernised patient tracking and data-driven NCD prevention in Somalia.

As an AstraZeneca Young Health Programme Impact Fellow, Abdirezak is committed to mobilising young people as active leaders in NCD prevention, health promotion, and universal health coverage.

Health equity - Non-communicable disease prevention

An Indian public health entrepreneur, Abhishek is Co-Founder & CEO of Lung Care Foundation, a non-profit driving action on lung health and clean air in India. He is also Founder and CEO of Aelira Lung Care, a startup focused on end-to-end respiratory care from early Lung Diagnostics, expert lung doctor consultations to pulmonary rehabilitation. 

His commitment to lung health is personal, shaped by his own asthma, and his father's work as a thoracic (lung) surgeon. Abhishek has built initiatives including Doctors for Clean Air and Climate Action, and the Asthma Management for Schools programme, whose manual has been adopted by the Government of India.

Lung Care Foundation's work has been recognised by India's former President and Prime Minister and is referenced in national policy discussions. Abhishek holds an MBA from the University of Oxford and is a World Economic Forum Global Shaper and Aspen UK Rising Fellow.

Climate-nature health action

A young climate leader from Burundi, Abischag is the Founder and Executive Director of the Initiative for Youth on Climate and Development (IJCD), committed to community impact, environmental protection, and youth empowerment.

She participated in COP29 in Azerbaijan and COP30 in Brazil, contributing to the National Youth Declaration to ensure young people's voices were represented in global climate discussions.

Through IJCD, Abischag leads innovative green solutions, including a plastic waste recycling business that transforms waste into paving blocks, protecting lakes and creating 12 jobs to date, earning a European Union award in Burundi. She also leads a composting project converting household organic waste into compost for sustainable agriculture. By training young people in digital skills and climate action, Abischag is building a generation of community leaders.

Health equity

A Malawian physician scientist, Adriano serves as Senior Research Fellow and Research Programs Lead at Clinical Research Education and Management Services (CREAMS), focusing on climate-sensitive diseases, and child health.

He leads research programmes in close collaboration with the Ministry of Health, regional bodies, and international partners, contributing to disease surveillance, implementation research, and policy dialogue that strengthen epidemic preparedness across Malawi and Africa. Adriano has authored over 30 peer-reviewed publications and regularly presents at national and international public health forums.

He serves as a member of the Medicines Committee under the Pharmacy and Medicines Regulatory Authority, contributing to stronger medicines regulation and ensuring drug safety and quality in Malawi.

Health equity and Climate resilience

Psychologist and the Founder and CEO of Ñañaykuna. Her work focuses on translating scientific evidence into practical solutions that address health inequalities by integrating gender equality, the prevention of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), mental health, and climate resilience.

She has designed and led projects and research initiatives that strengthen youth leadership, drive change in communities and public institutions, and promote sustainable solutions to reduce health inequalities. Her approach combines scientific evidence, community participation, and local knowledge to develop high-impact interventions that improve the well-being of young people and historically underserved communities.

She currently leads Raíces Vivas (Living Roots), a programme that trains young people as community health promoters and climate resilience advocates through healthy nutrition, community action, and the revitalization of ancestral knowledge.

Health equity - non-communicable disease prevention & Climate-nature action

A Nigerian sustainability and social justice leader, Damilola is Director and Co-Founder of CCCI Africa, a nonprofit, making clean cooking affordable and accessible for underserved communities. She holds a background in psychology, a degree in Environmental Education, and a Master's in Environmental and Clean Energy Financing, alongside extensive training in Gender-Based Violence (GBV) prevention.

Through its Clean Cook AI Agent, CCCI Africa uses AI and Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) technology so families can access clean cookstoves, flexible payment plans, and health information via any mobile phone, even without internet. The organisation has trained over 5,000 people, supported 30,000+ clean cookstove adoptions, and improved more than 100,000 lives across Nigeria.

Damilola designs inclusive programs promoting gender equity and fostering safety and accountability across CCCI Africa's initiatives.

A youth leader from Korogocho informal settlements in Nairobi, Derick is a Peer Educator with the Young Health Programme (YHP) in Kenya, committed to empowering young people through health education, community engagement, and peer-led initiatives.

Driven by the connection between environmental sustainability and community wellbeing, Derick champions tree-planting initiatives in Korogocho and mobilises young people to contribute to a healthier, greener environment. He leverages technology to raise awareness and engage youth on issues shaping their lives and futures.

Recognised for his leadership and volunteer spirit, Derick is dedicated to inspiring collective action and creating opportunities for young people to become active agents of change in their communities.

Health Equity - Non-communicable disease prevention

Dr. Idda Mihindi is a Tanzanian medical doctor and public health advocate who leads youth-centred health initiative through Chanzo-Based Health Organisation (CBHO), advancing health equity by addressing the root causes of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

Through Chanzo-Based Health Organisation, Dr. Mihindi leads prevention-focused interventions targeting key NCD risk factors among young people. By combining prevention, health education, digital health innovation, and youth empowerment, she builds youth-led ecosystems that promote healthier behaviours and enable young people to take ownership of their health and futures.

Through innovative approaches, including youth health champions and digital health solutions, Dr. Mihindi works to strengthen NCD prevention and improve access to health information for communities in Tanzania.

Health Equity - Non-communicable disease prevention

A British-Ghanaian physician, Dr. Khadija Owusu has built her career around early health intervention for girls. Growing up watching her brother navigate a sickle cell diagnosis taught her that health inequity has a face, a name, and a family, shaping her path into medicine and, later, founding the AKAYA Foundation.

As a GP trainee in Haringey, one of London's most deprived boroughs, she sees daily the cost of late intervention. Through AKAYA, she has built early NCD intervention infrastructure reaching over 10,000 lives across Ghana, Kenya and the UK through integrated health education, psychosocial support, and leadership development.

A UN speaker, White House guest of Michelle Obama, TEDx speaker, and broadcaster for the BBC, ITV, and Channel 5, Dr Owusu bridges grassroots reality and global health conversations, reaching 100,000+ followers with her advocacy.

A youth leader, mentor, and Peer Educator with the Young Health Programme (YHP) in Kenya, Hawo is committed to advancing the health and wellbeing of young people in Mathare, Nairobi, raising awareness on key health issues and empowering young people in informal settlements to voice their concerns and aspirations.

She leads a youth mentorship initiative equipping adolescents with essential life skills, facilitating health education sessions and community outreach activities that promote healthier lifestyles and positive behaviour change.

Hawo is particularly passionate about adolescent health, mental and emotional wellbeing, and non-communicable disease (NCD) prevention, striving to create inclusive and supportive spaces where all young people can thrive and contribute meaningfully to their communities.

Rare diseases

Diagnosed with two rare diseases at age 12 during the COVID-19 pandemic, Khartik turned his experience into a global movement. By 15, he had founded RareGen Youth Network, now the world's largest youth-led rare disease advocacy organisation, uniting 1,620+ members across 47 U.S. states and six continents.

Khartik's impact spans science and policy. He has authored peer-reviewed research published at IEEE Engineering Medicine and Biology Society (EMBS) and ACM Conference on Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, and Health Informatics (ACM BCB), while RareGen has presented 113 policy reports to the United Nations Human Rights Council and European Union, directly influencing 17 U.S. state senate resolutions. His work bridging racial equity and rare disease advocacy has mobilised 8,300 BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour) youth.

His leadership has earned the Princeton Prize in Race Relations, a Coca-Cola Scholarship, and recognition as a Bryan Cameron Impact Scholarship Finalist and Forbes 30 Under 30 Semi-finalist.

A Community Health Promoter and Peer Educator in Kenya, Magdaline is committed to advancing health awareness and positive behaviour change in underserved communities, with a focus on non-communicable disease (NCD) prevention, sexual and reproductive health, and adolescent health.

Passionate about improving access to youth-friendly health services, Magdaline supports adolescents in confidently seeking healthcare and accessing accurate health information, while working with healthcare providers to promote more responsive and youth-centred services.

Through community outreach, health education, and advocacy, she is dedicated to strengthening the connection between young people and health systems, creating environments where young people feel welcomed, heard, and supported.

A trained mental health specialist, Mary is a Programme Officer with Plan International Kenya, coordinating the implementation of the Young Health Programme (YHP) Kenya at community level. She is passionate about promoting the wellbeing, safety, and development of adolescents and young people.

Mary works closely with young people, community stakeholders, and government partners to ensure high-quality programme delivery, playing a key liaison role between grassroots initiatives and public sector institutions. As Plan International Kenya's Safeguarding Focal Point, she is committed to ensuring the safety, dignity, and inclusion of all programme participants.

Health Equity - Non-communicable disease prevention

A Doctor of Medicine from the Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Mila is President of the Youth Empowerment Association and a Young European Ambassador, focused on strengthening youth participation in public health, decision-making, and policy processes in North Macedonia.

In 2021, she led the "Immunize Yourself – It’s About Health!" innovative initiative to raise public awareness of the importance of vaccines in preventing infectious diseases, featuring leading medical experts and focusing on education-driven action to strengthen public health. Moreover, she completed the 2023 cycle of the Council of Europe Schools of Political Studies, while in 2024 she won the Golden Proton at the "I. FAST Challenge-Based Innovation: Particle accelerators for healthcare" innovation event at CERN. Most recently, she received a traineeship at the European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines & HealthCare in Strasbourg.

Mila bridges clinical knowledge with community-based action, initiating the "#SmokeFreeYouth Initiative: Empowering a Tobacco-Free Generation", addressing tobacco use and second-hand smoke exposure as major drivers of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). In 2025, she completed training for health workers on tobacco and nicotine cessation interventions in primary health care, motivating and equipping her to tackle tobacco addiction in underserved communities.

Health systems resilience

A 28-year-old refugee from DR Congo living in Dzaleka Refugee Camp, Malawi, Milemo founded Let's Be Transformed (MAGUFINA) in 2017 at age 19 after witnessing young people fall sick with no one advocating for their health.

He now leads a team alongside the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Malawi Ministry of Health protecting 60,000 refugees. Over seven years, Milemo has trained 45 health volunteers, reached 3,200 young people through health education, and led Dzaleka's first 800-household health assessment. In 2024, he advocated directly to the UNHCR Malawi for Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) prevention to be included in the camp's formal health plan, now under active review.

Milemo has completed climate resilience research with the Global Disaster Preparedness Center and was selected as a 2025–2026 International AIDS Society Youth Hub advocate. In December 2025, he built policy advocacy skills at a UNODC forum in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Climate-nature action

A director of Public Health Literacy, a non-profit advancing individual and community health through education, Rezaul has helped the organisation earn recognition as one of eleven leading health entrepreneur companies addressing Health Equity and Access by SOCADIGITAL21.

Rezaul Karim Ripon is an epidemiologist affiliated with Harvard University, where his work focuses on environmental exposure assessment, cardiovascular and respiratory disease risk, and health equity. He is a Research Fellow at the Harvard Cyprus Endowment Program and has worked at Massachusetts General Hospital, contributing to studies on PFAS, heavy metal exposure, and chronic disease outcomes. His research spans environmental health, cardiovascular epidemiology, infectious disease, and global health. He holds degrees from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and serves in editorial roles for several international journals.

Health equity - Rare diseases

A Sierra Leonean researcher, social worker, feminist, and disability rights activist, Thomas brings over eight years of experience across gender and inclusion, health and rehabilitation education, peacebuilding, electoral management, and disability-inclusive development.

He currently serves as Head of Programs at the Welfare Society for the Disabled Sierra Leone, and President of the Mano River Youth Network, a sub-regional network of youth-led organisations and activists. Thomas has played a pivotal role in policy decision-making, advocacy, and youth empowerment programming, with his research on the educational impact of regional trading influencing national policy changes and improving school retention rates.

His achievements include Best Activist of the Year and Youth Lead Ambassador awards. As CEO of TOMDACT SL Limited, Thomas combines social enterprise with advocacy for lasting impact.

Health Equity - Non-communicable disease prevention

A UK-based advocate for women and girls, Tiffany is Founder and CEO of The Dove Foundation for Global Change, working with governments and the private sector to secure universal access to health, education, economic prosperity, and violence prevention for women and girls.

The Foundation is an official W20 partner, co-authoring a health policy briefing presented to G20 leaders and launching a Women's Health Campaign reaching 4,500+ parliamentarians across G20 countries. It hosts a network of women's health clinics including in Ecuador serving over 9,000 women and it aims to deliver a community-based non-communicable disease (NCD) prevention programme in Quito, addressing cardiovascular disease, physical inactivity, unhealthy diets, and tobacco and alcohol use among young people in underserved communities.

Before founding the organisation, Tiffany served on a 10 Downing Street working group on justice reform and wrote a white paper on local government finance adopted by three successive UK governments. She has been a UN Millennium Fellow, World Bank Youth Delegate, G100 UK Country Chair and a Young Commissioner for Hertfordshire County Council, serving a population of over 1.2 million people.

Climate-nature action & Health equity - Non-communicable disease prevention

An environmental nutritionist, Zuzanna is co-founder of two non-profits: HarvestCare in the Netherlands and the Regenerative Healthcare European Association (RHEA) in Portugal. Since 2022, she has been building an Agri-Health System connecting regenerative farming, health institutions, and vulnerable communities to advance the Food is Medicine movement across the Netherlands and Europe.

Her work spans co-designing randomised controlled trials with academic research institutions, running ground-level programmes with patients in vulnerable communities, fundraising across public and private sectors, and lobbying at the EU level to develop Horizon funding pathways.

Zuzanna is driven by the intersection of soil, plant, and human health, working to break down silos between the farming and food system and the healthcare sector.