“A world in which every child has access to the necessary tools to fulfill their potential and flourish.”
Affordable Health Initiative (AHI) is a campaigning charity organisation, registered in the UK in June 2019.
The AHI does not accept donations and does not fund implementation of interventions. Instead, it supports collaborators in developing fundraising proposals and post-graduate projects.
THE AHI CAMPAIGNS
Making every school a Health Promoting School.
AHI supports the WHO–UNESCO Global Standards for Health-Promoting Schools, and have operationalised the call to embed health promotion and oral health into school policies, environments and curricula.
To this purpose, the AHI has developed a scalable and sustainable HPS model, piloted it using an implementation research methodology, and is implementing it across the world. Guidelines for implementation and protocols to assess the impact were developed and are available by request.
Eradicating toothache in schoolchildren.
Access to clinical dental care is the fundamental action plan to address toothache.
W
One-third children worldwide experienced dental pain, unnecessarily.
Embedding Oral Hygiene on WASH strategy.
Brushing teeth twice daily with fluoridated toothpaste is one of the most effective and affordable ways to prevent dental decay. Fluoride strengthens tooth enamel, and reverse early stages of tooth decay.
Healthy teeth contribute to better nutrition, clearer speech, and greater confidence—enabling people to eat comfortably, smile freely, and feel more attractive in social and professional settings.
AHI is campaigning for UNICEF to include tooth brushing with fluoride in the WASH strategy.
Assuring that all school children are vaccinated.
Vaccination is one of the most efficient tools for controlling infectious diseases.
Health education increases health inequalities. Education reduces health inequalities.
Promoting healthy and nutritious school meals.
Personal hygiene can protect school children and the community against infectious diseases and also improve social acceptance.
Physical activities offer vast benefits, such as weight management and reduce risk of chronic diseases.
AHI’s approach to teaching is based on the idea that the child’s voice is central: the classroom is a democracy.
Medical Healthcare focusses on surveillance and organising referrals to local Primary Health Care.
Dental Healthcare is provided at school setting adopting a modern biological approach to prevent and manage tooth decay.
Theoretical Framework
Affordable Health Research Centre
Research opportunities
A multi-centre study was designed to assess the implementation and impact of the Affordable Health Initiative (AHI) Health Promoting School (HPS) model.
Our work focuses on technical assistance to governments and schools worldwide for the maintenance of the AHI-model of HPS standards, as well as on the development of schools health policies and health care protocols for AHI schools.
Research activities
The AHRC has been providing technical support in piloting the implementation and evaluating AHI-model of Health Promoting School model in District Federal, Brasil (Learn more>); Belo Horizonte, state of Minas Gerais, Brasil (Learn more>); Bauru, State of São Paulo, Brasil (Learn more>), in South America; Afigya Kwabre South District, Ghana (Learn more>); Ife District, Nigeria; and Somalia, in Africa.
Currently, there are over 40 research associates carrying out projects in collaboration with the AHRC.