Diabetics in Homa Bay County have urged the government to avail diabetes drugs in all hospitals at the grassroots level.
The patients lamented that very few public hospitals in the county have diabetic drugs forcing them to travel to other health facilities in major towns.
A patient, Joseph Mboya, said more attention had been given to other medical conditions leaving diabetes patients in anguish.
Homa Bay County government relies on support from Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors without Borders) in managing non communicable diseases (NCD) at Nyalkinyi and Marindi sub-county hospitals.
Mboya said going to the facilities to collect drugs was costly for those in far flung areas and urged the government to make drugs available in dispensaries.
He said they had formed a group which pushes for the rights of people suffering from NCDs.
“We want all people suffering from NCDs to come together so that we can influence policies and decision making. We want to support each other,” Mboya said.
He lamented that the area county government was not providing enough care for people suffering from NCDs.
“Drugs should be available at health facilities at the grassroots. We will push for this and form partnerships so that drugs are available closest to the people,” Mr Mboya.
Mr Leonard Oweri, a patient from Kanyamwa in Ndhiwa who has been living with the condition since 2012 said devices used to check blood sugar should also be made available in dispensaries at the grassroots level.
MSF Project Coordinator Bright Mukhuna said they were working towards ensuring all patients access care and treatment that they need.
“There is need for us to make sure that those people who have the diseases are able to go on with their daily lives without facing challenges,” Mr Mukhuna said.
The MSF official said without management, Diabetes can cause a lot of problems to patients rendering them unproductive.
Mr Mukhuna who spoke on Sunday during a diabetes awareness forum in Homa Bay town said such patients would not contribute to national development and take care of their families.
He said with treatment, care and support, patients can lead long and normal lives.
Homa Bay Sub-County Medical Officer Ben Otieno said some people also believe that people with diabetes have been bewitched.
“Our community health promoters have the information and we want them to pass it to the people,” Dr Otieno said.
Dr Otieno said the condition can be managed by changing diet and eating healthy and correct types of food.
“We are trying to overcome all the challenges and I can attest that no patient visiting public hospitals has ever missed drugs when they require them,” he said.
By Davis Langat
