Health stakeholders in Mombasa County have called on the county government to allocate more resources to the health sector to improve service delivery and address critical health concerns, including mental health. 

Speaking during a three-day youth training organized by the Pwani Youth Network, Changamwe Sub-County Adolescent and Youth Coordinator Kennedy Micheni emphasized the need for increased investment in healthcare. He noted that boosting funding would not only enhance service provision but also create employment opportunities for more health officers. 

“Mombasa County should invest more resources in the health sector. This will facilitate better service delivery and ensure that more health professionals are hired,” said Micheni. 
He also urged the national government to prioritize mental health by employing more psychologists and fully devolving mental health services across the country. 

“The issue of mental health should be devolved to ensure easy access to services at the grassroots level,” he added.
Judy Obado, another stakeholder, raised concerns over the increasing cases of mental health issues in Mombasa, attributing the rise to economic hardships and high unemployment rates. 

“The tough economic situation has led to a surge in mental health issues, including rising cases of suicide. Joblessness among the youth is a major contributing factor,” she stated. 
She urged the county government to allocate specific funds to address mental health challenges and create more employment opportunities to alleviate economic stress among young people. 

Pwani Youth Network Programs Coordinator Saumu Hussein encouraged young people to take advantage of available health services and visit healthcare facilities more frequently. 

“These services are meant for us. I encourage all youth to visit health facilities and utilize the services provided,” she said. 
She also called on health workers and county authorities to create a more youth-friendly environment in healthcare facilities. 

“Some youths hesitate to seek medical services because they feel uncomfortable being attended to by older health professionals. There should be efforts to make these spaces more inclusive,” she added. 
Beatrice Mwangu, a youth activist from Likoni Sub-County, pointed out communication barriers between young people and healthcare providers as another challenge affecting service accessibility.  “One
of the biggest challenges is the communication gap. If we had more young professionals in these health facilities, it would be easier for us to open up and share our concerns,” she noted. 

She stressed that addressing youth mental health issues requires urgent attention, particularly due to high unemployment rates. 

The three-day training aimed to tackle key issues affecting young people, including unemployment and mental health, while also encouraging better engagement between youths and healthcare providers.