Kirinyaga county has rolled out interventions to curb the increase of lifestyle diseases.
This is in the wake of a July health report that ranked the county as having the highest prevalence of diabetes, high blood pressure and hypertension.
Governor Anne Waiguru says the report is worrying and the trend should be controlled.
Waiguru says interventions include health education, a rollout of medical check-ups and clinics across the county and encouraging fish and poultry farming.
Residents are being encouraged to reduce the major modifiable risk factors such as unhealthy diets, tobacco use, alcoholism and to increase physical activity.
“One of the causes of the rise in lifestyle diseases is heavy consumption of starch. We encourage people to reduce consumption of red meat, high cholesterol foods and engage in exercises like walking,” she said.
The governor says the increase in lifestyle diseases has seen the demand for diabetes, hypertension and kidney ailment medications rise to unprecedented levels.
Waiguru said her administration, through the Wezesha Kirinyaga economic empowerment programme, is encouraging consumption of white meat by funding more farmers to get into fish and poultry farming.
“The county government is supporting fish farmers to increase production as a way of creating alternative livelihoods and improved nutritional status in the county,” she added.
The governor pointed out that the development of walkways in Kerugoya town and carbro-paving of towns like Kutus, Kagio and Kianyaga will encourage exercise and burn cholesterol.
County Health director George Karoki said additional daily clinics have been rolled out at Kianyaga, Kimbimbi, Mwea and Sagana hospitals to ease pressure on Kerugoya County Referral Hospital.
“Only level 4 and 5 hospitals were handling the diseases, but now health centres and dispensaries have been roped in," Karoki said.
"We are doing check-ups for all patients visiting our facilities before they get to see the doctor. Regular clinics are also in progress,” he added.
Health data show a steady increase in cases of diabetes in Kirinyaga since 2016.
The number hit 7,943 last year. In 2016, the county recorded 2,345 cases, 2,285 in 2017, 2,811 in 2018 and 5,257 in 2019.
Cases of hypertension rose to 22,973 last year from 17,079 in 2019. Some 11,712 cases were recorded in 2018 while 7,482 were reported in 2017.
The year 2016 had 9,276 cases of non-communicable diseases among the residents.
(Edited by Bilha Makokha)
