Caafi Health is a grassroots project which focuses on improving the health and wellbeing of underserved populations living in Bristol, where some people find traditional NHS healthcare services difficult to access. The people who experience poor health outcomes as result of poor access to services have their life expectancy shortened. Often these people come from communities or groups who have been marginalised across multiple demographic intersections of race, ethnicity, and income. 

The need for a project like Caafi Health became apparent during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic where underserved communities were disproportionately affected by the virus, both in mortality and in infection rate. What’s more, when the vaccine was eventually rolled out, the same communities who had the worst outcomes with Covid-19 were the most hesitant towards getting the vaccine. The founders of Caafi Health realised people’s ability to receive optimal care is directly linked to the level of trust, respect and access they feel and experience with healthcare providers. 

Caafi Health provide a space where underserved communities can access information, support, education and advocacy in order to overcome some of the day-to-day challenges people experience accessing healthcare services. 

Caafi Health connect underserved communities and healthcare services, drawing in their views to give them voice, helping turn words into action for improved health and health services, building the skills and understanding of health services on the one hand and communities on the other.