The National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) launched Afia Njema Programme which intends to transform Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) prevention and control in Kenya
The programme will establish and nurture strategic partnership with government, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), Private sector, philanthropists, bilateral, multilateral, and international organisations and other faith-based organisations to address NCDs.
Launching the Afia Njema Programme, Health Cabinet Secretary (CS) Mutahi Kagwe said NCDs is rapidly rising and continues to put a double strain on the health care system.
“NCDs represent a threat to human health and development and thus we should create awareness among the public regarding it and that it cannot be transmitted from one person to the other,” said Kagwe.
However, Kagwe cautioned the public that anybody can get NCDs and added that it had increased by 24 per cent since the year 2015.
The CS said despite the governments’ effort to come up with strategies that will help people affected with NCDs, it is an individual effort to see that they improve their own health.
However, Kagwe challenged NCCK to work towards achieving digital health saying Afia Njema is significant in the process of upgrading the standards of healthcare for the future belongs to those that are digitally equipped.
“The government is determined to train as many people as possible including the lab technicians, clinical officers, nurses and the like regarding digital health,” said Kagwe.
The NCCK General Secretary Rev Canon Chris Kinyanjui in his remarks said the NCCK is working together with NHIF (National Health Insurance Fund) to see how every Kenyan can access healthcare using the NHIF card.
Kinyanjui further said NCCK shall hold medical camps to do cancer screening so that people can know their status and get the right medication early enough.
One of the NCD survivors, Stephen Ogweno called upon the young people to contribute actively in implementation of health strategies.
By Catherine Muindi and Daisy Makena
