The Kenya Tea Development Agency Foundation has set aside Sh10 million for free medical check-ups for tea farmers across the country.
Emmy Kulola, the foundation’s health programme coordinator, said the funds will be spread across the 12 tea zones covered by KTDA.
Each year, the foundation conducts a medical camp in one factory in each of the zones.
Kulola, who spoke at Kihoya health centre during a free medical camp on Wednesday, said the foundation started the medical camps programme after realising that a majority of tea farmers are elderly and face numerous health challenges.
“We realised that a big number of our farmers are above 60 years and suffer from chronic illnesses such as diabetes and high blood pressure,” he said.
Many are also unaware of their health status, which leads to late diagnoses that make their management difficult.
Kulola said through the medical camps farmers are tested and diagnosed and advised on healthy living practices.
Early last year, National Assembly Health committee chair Sabina Chege raised the alarm over a rise in lifestyle diseases in the Central region.
Samuel Mugi, director at Gatunguru tea factory, said many farmers suffer in silence as they are not able to visit health centres when they feel unwell.
Others are unable to procure expensive drugs prescribed for them when they undergo medical check-ups.
Eston Githaiga, another director, noted that the medical camp is expected to reach at least 2,000 farmers and will last for three days.
“Good health promotes higher productivity which translates to increased harvests,” he said.
Edited by Henry Makori
