•According to the ministry, World Diabetes Foundation has advanced Sh1,172,330,046 (Euros 7,099,008) grant towards the project which runs from 2023 to 2027.
•Nakhumicha said the grant is timely even as the country strives to strengthen primary healthcare services.
Image: MOH
The Ministry of Health has launched the third phase of the diabetes and hypertension care project as it seeks to reduce the burden of the disease in the country.
The four-year project by the World Diabetes Foundation seeks to strengthen the integration of diabetes and hypertension into primary health care in 35 targeted counties.
One of the objectives of the project is to strengthen community-level engagement, including training of health volunteers and mobilisation of civil society, and including the roll-out of health promotion activities, screening campaigns and referral for care.
It also seeks to strengthen primary health care, including training of health care professionals and provision of diagnostics tools and other medical equipment.
According to the ministry, the World Diabetes Foundation has advanced a Sh1,172,330,046 (Euros 7,099,008) grant towards the project which runs from 2023 to 2027.
“I want to extend our sincere gratitude to the World Diabetes Foundation for awarding our Country a four-year grant that seeks to strengthen the integration of NCD management into the primary healthcare level across 35 counties,” Health CS Susan Nakhumicha said.
Nakhumicha said the grant is timely even as the country strives to strengthen primary healthcare services.
"I call upon the relevant divisions at the ministry, county governments and implementing partners to work together to ensure the successful implementation of this project,” the CS said.
The Kenya Diabetes Management and Information Centre (DMI), a diabetes training and research centre based in Nairobi is in charge of technical-administrative and funds management.
The grant also seeks to strengthen the supply chain with a focus on targeted primary healthcare facilities.
The first phase of the project was conducted between 2009 and 2014 with the overall objective of strengthening capacity building on diabetes in secondary and tertiary health facilities.
The second phase which was conducted between 2016 and 2020 focused on capacity building, health information and research.
During the marking of World Diabetes Day on Tuesday, the CS noted that nearly four per cent of Kenyans are estimated to have diabetes with only 40 per cent currently on treatment and follow-up.
The greater concern is that more than 87 per cent of Kenyans have never had their blood sugar levels checked.
“While the numbers are alarming with close to 350,000 Kenyan adults remaining undiagnosed, it is encouraging to note that a high proportion of diabetes and its complications can be prevented and controlled,” Nakhumicha said.
The ministry now calls on Kenyans to eat a healthy diet with less refined sugars, low salt and fats and plenty of fruits and vegetables.