Nairobi, Kenya – 29th September 2025 – Renowned Kenyan health advocate, OgwenO Stephen, took center stage at the Health NGOs Network (HENNET) Media Sensitization Forum, highlighting the critical role of media in shaping public understanding of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and primary health care (PHC) in Kenya.

The forum, hosted at Tamarind Tree Hotel in Nairobi and organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Health’s Primary Health Care Department, gathered national and county-level media practitioners, civil society representatives, and community health leaders. Its goal: to equip the media with tools to report accurately, responsibly, and innovatively on Kenya’s health system.

During his session, titled “NCDs, PHC and the Next Generation: Reframing Media Narratives,” Ogweno Stephen shared insights from his decade-long journey as a health advocate in Kenya and across Africa, emphasizing the growing burden of NCDs like obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. He highlighted how youth-driven innovations, community mobilization, and storytelling can strengthen primary health care and accelerate progress toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

“Often, public discourse on NCDs is fragmented. Media has the power to transform understanding, reduce stigma, and make health literacy accessible to every Kenyan,” Ogweno Stephen told participants. He underscored practical ways journalists can integrate community voices, highlight successful grassroots interventions, and leverage digital platforms to inform the public about preventive health measures.

The session also focused on bridging the gap between policy and practice. Ogweno Stephen highlighted case studies from Stowelink Foundation, demonstrating how community engagement and media collaboration can improve early NCD detection, promote healthy lifestyles, and amplify youth-led health advocacy.

By the end of the forum, participants left with actionable strategies to report on primary health care and NCDs in Kenya, helping to shape a future where media strengthens the public health narrative rather than merely reporting statistics. OgwenO Stephen continues to inspire change as a leading Kenyan health advocate, turning lived experience into impactful action and driving conversations on the next generation of public health in Africa.