- The county director of Medical Services spoke during a free medical camp for tea farmers held at Karumandi health centre in Gichugu.
- Hundreds of tea farmers showed up for the one day medical check-up which was organised by the KTDA Foundation in partnership with the county.
Kiriyaga residents have been urged to adopt a healthy lifestyle and embrace physical fitness to reduce the burden of chronic diseases.
County director for Medical Services, Public Health and Sanitation Dr George Karoki told the residents to seek routine medical check-up in local health facilities because early detection of such diseases would help manage and counter their spread.
Dr Karoki said the most prevalent non-communicable diseases in the county are hypertension, diabetes and asthma.
The director spoke Wednesday during a free medical camp for tea farmers held at Karumandi health centre in Gichugu.
He said that among those that are diagnosed with lifestyle-related diseases, a substantial number of patients are farmers.
The director, however, said the county will continue putting in place preventive and control measures to mitigate the surging ailments.
There was also a blood donation exercise during the camp where residents were also urged to donate blood to increase the amount in the blood banks.
“Today (Wednesday), we were not only offering free medical services, we had extension of blood donation to ensure we have enough in our banks, especially in our referral facility,” Dr Karoki said.
Hundreds of tea farmers showed up for the one day medical check-up which was organised by the Kenya Tea Development Agency Foundation in partnership with the county.
The patients were examined, treated and given medicines for diseases such as cervical, breast and prostate cancer, arthritis, diabetes and hypertension by various specialists and given medicines for free.
Dr Kaloki emphasised on the need for a routine medical check-up for the farmers due to the harsh cold weather they are exposed to while cultivating farms and picking their tea.
Thumaita Tea Factory director Richard Magu hailed the exercise which he termed as corporate responsibility.
He said that, since farmers complained of 'Kinga Mkulima' insurance, they have streamlined policy to ensure the farmer feels and appreciates its role.
The KTDA representative said they will continue to partner with the counties to ensure health service reach the farmers and other citizens.
The representative also said the foundation has expanded its wings to other sectors such as education, economic empowerment and environmental sustainability.
Farmers who benefited from the camp hailed the initiative, saying it was timely intervention for the majority of them who cannot afford the cost of medical care.
Ruth Waweru, one of the beneficiaries, called for the organisers to regularly hold such camps to supplement efforts by the national and county governments.
“We are happy today for this medical camp by the KTDA and county government to help farmers with suffering from different ailments,” she said.
Another farmer, Patrick Njeru, appreciated the factory and government for joining hands for the sake of farmers' health.
(edited by Amol Awuor)