Residents of Homa Bay have been urged to embrace frequent check-ups and screening for diabetes and hypertension.
Speaking in Homa-Bay town during World Diabetes day, Homa Bay Sub County Disease Surveillance Coordinator Dola John observed that the majority of the population was at risk of contracting the diseases due to their lifestyle.
“There is a need for sensitisation on the importance of screening to enable early detection and start of treatment for these diseases,” said Dola.
Dola further added that these diseases were neglected for a while as people only concentrated on diseases such as malaria and HIV/AIDs.
On his part, Charles Okatch who is in charge of health promotions said that the department in conjunction with a non-governmental institution known as Medicines Sans Frontiers (MSF) had already established 3 centres in different facilities to ease access to treatment for their patients.
“The health department in collaboration with MSF has established treatment centres at Nyalkinyi Hospital and Marindi Sub County Hospital to strengthen the fight against chronic diseases such as epilepsy, diabetes and hypertension,” said Okatch.
Okatch further explained that one in every five people admitted at the Homa Bay County Referral Hospital suffered from either diabetes or hypertension and this is majorly associated with the lifestyle of the people and reluctance to go for frequent check-ups.
The promotion officer implored the residents to join hands with the department in the fight against these diseases.
By Omar Zabbibah and Langat
