Ogweno Stephen is a multi-award-winning global public health expert, researcher, and innovator focused on driving transformative change in health and wellness with over 10+ years of experience
Dive into the works of Ogweno Stephen who is on a mission to improve health outcomes through innovative solutions, advocacy, and groundbreaking research
Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) Prevention and Control
Expertise Highlight: With a wealth of experience in NCD prevention, community engagement, and policy advocacy, Ogweno is a key partner for health initiatives aiming to improve health equity and inspire sustainable change.
Ogweno Stephen has led groundbreaking work in NCD prevention and control across Africa through Stowelink Foundation, founded in 2015. His projects, including NCDs 365 and My Heart KE Project Alpha, span 10 major initiatives in 10 countries, positively impacting over 10 million lives.
From hospital settings at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital to community-focused initiatives, Ogweno has built bridges between healthcare facilities and underserved populations. His advocacy work now places him in global policy discussions, representing the voices of those affected by NCDs.
He has adopted a bottom-up approach in health intervention: starting with creating awareness, advancing to behavioral change initiatives, advocacy for systemic changes, and eventually influencing health policies. His journey reflects a comprehensive engagement across the health intervention cascade.
Collaborations with WHO, NCD Alliance, and ministries in Kenya and Rwanda have amplified his impact globally. His leadership roles in organizations like the World Obesity Federation and the World Heart Federation further highlight his influence in shaping health policy.
Health Tech & Innovation
Expertise Highlight: With a proven track record of creating impactful health tech solutions, Ogweno offers valuable insights into designing, scaling, and implementing innovations that transform healthcare delivery.
Ogweno’s journey in health tech began early, fueled by his passion for technology. After attending a computer college post-primary school, he used his savings to launch My Heart KE, his first health tech project. Though it faced challenges, it was a valuable learning experience that shaped his future innovations.
He has since developed several health tech tools, including the NCDs 365 Mobile App and the award-winning Lifesten Health App. Leveraging advanced technologies like transdermal optical imaging AI, Lifesten provides personalized health plans at scale, addressing behavior change and health diagnostics.
His work has earned global recognition, including winning the Kigali Cardiovascular Health Challenge, being featured on CNN and DW, and securing places in the Google for Startups Accelerator and NVIDIA Inception programs.
Ogweno’s tech-driven approach focuses on making healthcare accessible and actionable, blending innovation with empathy.
Policy Advocacy and Global Health Leadership
Expertise Highlight: Ogweno’s ability to connect grassroots advocacy with global policymaking makes him a strategic leader for health organizations seeking to influence meaningful and inclusive policy reforms.
Ogweno’s advocacy journey began in university, where he successfully pushed for access to sexual and reproductive health essentials and periodic health screenings. This grassroots activism set the stage for his global advocacy work.
He is a vocal champion for the inclusion of young people and individuals living with NCDs in policymaking, and he has led efforts in areas like trans fats elimination, tobacco and alcohol control, and climate change’s impact on NCDs.
Ogweno has contributed to high-level global discussions at the UN High-Level Meetings, the World Heart Assembly, and the World Heart Congress. He has co-authored influential policy documents, including the WHO’s Nothing for Us Without Us report and the Selling a Sick Future report by NCD Alliance.
His advocacy has driven meaningful changes, from front-of-pack labeling standards in Kenya to broader global policy shifts.
Health Communication and Education
Expertise Highlight: Ogweno’s unique ability to blend creativity with evidence-based health education makes him an invaluable resource for organizations aiming to elevate their health communication strategies.
At the heart of Ogweno’s work is simplifying complex health concepts for the average individual. He is a master communicator, using creative channels like poetry, music, and visual media to make health education engaging and relatable.
His projects have reached millions, including the NCDs 365 Project, which used text, infographics, videos, and even board games to deliver health messages. He has published books like The Drug-Free Youth Anthology and Mental Health Matters Anthology, used in schools to teach literature and health.
His NCDs for Public Health course, the highest-rated on Udemy, has over 3,000 students globally and is CPD-certified. He has also developed communication materials for topics such as reproductive health and antimicrobial resistance.
Ogweno has worked with organizations to design health communication strategies, train trainers, and foster community engagement.
Global Health Research
Expertise Highlight: With extensive experience in research and a focus on translating findings into impactful solutions, Ogweno is a trusted partner for research-driven health initiatives.
With nearly 20 original scientific publications and recognition like the WHO Hideyo Noguchi Prize for Young African Researchers, Ogweno has established himself as a leading voice in global health research.
His research interests span NCDs, climate change, health tech, and health communication, with a focus on implementation research that bridges science and policy.
Ogweno’s research contributions include co-authored papers on universal health coverage and oral health integration in NCD responses. His work emphasizes actionable insights that improve health outcomes and inform policy.
As a mentor, he supports individuals in research formulation, methodology, and implementation, ensuring their work contributes to tangible health improvements.
Milestones and Achievements
Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) Prevention and Control
The biggest achievement Ogweno has had under this thematic area is implementing multinational prgrammes that have impacted over 10 million people in his 10 years of work.
Health Tech & Innovation
The biggest health tech achievement for Ogweno has been the development of Lifesten Health leveraging on the lattest AI technology and reaching over 2 million people in Rwanda and globally
Policy Advocacy and Global Health Leadership
The biggest accomplishement of Ogweno Stephen in policy was representing people living with NCDs and making a reading at the World health assembly in Geneva in 2021
Health Communication and Education
The biggest accomplishment here is the development of the highest rated and CPD approved online course, The NCDs for Public Health Course with over 3000 students.
Global Health Research
Winning the World Health Organizations AFRO Hideyo Noguchi Prize For Young African Scholars is one of the biggest accomplishment Ogweno has had in his work as a researcher
HEALTH INTERVENTIONS FOR HEALTH PROMOTION IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA: ASSESSING IMPACT ON HEALTH LITERACY AND COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF ONLINE COMMUNICATION CHANNELS
The Africa NCD Champions podcast hosted by Ogweno Stephen is dedicated to educating, informing, and inspiring the world about non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Africa including by sharing the life experiences of those who are living with them.
The NCDs Champions Youtube Channel hosted by Ogweno Stephen shares his insights and innovations with the aim to improve health communication and primary health care for non communicable diseases(NCDs) across the globe.
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STEPHEN OGWENO 