The National Police Service Commission in partnership with the Ministry of Health undertook an assessment on the health status of officers in Kakamega county.
The exercise which has been ongoing to establish the number of officers impaired while in the line of duty, was launched at the Kakamega police station grounds and is expected to cover the whole of the Western region.
Speaking during the event, NPSC commissioner John ole Mayaki said the officers will undergo physical and psychosocial check-up and those injured while serving will be put under a special medical cover.
“The exercise is targeting police officers who were injured while on duty. In Kakamega, 194 officers will be undergoing the exercise which will take three days,” he said.
Seven specialist doctors and three special groups of doctors who are examining mental illness among the officers have been identified. They will examine the officers from all western counties of Kakamega, Busia, Vihiga and Bungoma.
Dr John Kibosia, one of the doctors who will be carrying out the medical assessment, said they are examining all the injuries and illnesses the officers are suffering from.
He said from their initial assessment, lifestyle diseases are on the rise among most officers.
“We have discovered that almost 80 per cent have some form of lifestyle diseases ranging from high blood pressure, diabetes and ulcers,” he said.
Western Regional police commander Peris Kimani said some ailments make the officers vulnerable to other health problems which could lead to loss of life.
“We are keen to offer early interventions to our officers,” she said.
Kimani urged the commission to also transfer injured officers to stations that will be convenient in management of their ailment, for example move them to stations near their families or hospital of their choice so that they can be managed by their families and loved ones.
She also raised concern saying despite majority of them being covered by NHIF, some have exhausted them, hence the need for other interventions.
She encouraged the police officers to be keen on their social economic lifestyle and not to engage in heavy alcoholic drinking or sedentary lifestyles that will endanger their lives.
-Edited by SKanyara
