NCDA KENYA (NCDAK) and NCD Alliance held a workshop on 21-22 March to develop The Advocacy Agenda of People living with NCDs (PLWNCDs) in Kenya. The meeting aimed to consult with PLWNCDs to define a common Advocacy Agenda, explore communications and advocacy needed to further the agenda, and promote among stakeholders meaningful involvement of PLWNCDs.

The workshop was part of a multi-stakeholder event held by Access Accelerated: BUILDING SOLUTIONS TO PATIENT CHALLENGES IN NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASES. The workshop was attended by nearly 100 delegates, including over 40 PLWNCDs, civil society organizations and county First Ladies Mrs Stella Samboja, Mrs Nazi Kvutha and Mrs Elizabeth Maiyani. NCDAK, represented by its chair Dr Eva Njenga, Dr Mary Nyamongo, Dr Catherine Karekezi and Prof Gerald Yonga, spoke about the Alliance’s work, at both national and regional level and guided discussions.

The two-day workshop produced the Advocacy Agenda of PLWNCDs in Kenya. The document makes a strong case for action – including key ‘asks’ – and contains recommendations for various stakeholders, such as the UN system and multilateral organizations, national government and legislators, ministry of health, civil society organizations and the business community.

Creation of the Advocacy Agenda of PLWNCDs in Kenya will set in motion a series of national advocacy efforts led by NCDAK and including meaningful involvement of PLWNCDs. As part of the partnership between NCD Alliance and Access Accelerated, representatives of NCDAK will attend the NCD ADVOCACY INSTITUTE workshop in Geneva in May, and three PLWNCDs will participate in NCDA’s OUR VIEWS, OUR VOICES training, 17-18 May.

NCDA will further the Advocacy Agenda of People Living with NCDs in Kenya in global discussions as part of our 2018 UN HLM CAMPAIGN.