Medics from Mater Misericordiae Hospital have raised concern over the rise in the prevalence of heart disease in the South Rift Region, which covers Samburu, Baringo, Nakuru, Kericho, Bomet, and Narok Counties.
The health facility that specializes in heart conditions has reported an increase in cases of children and adolescents with heart and blood vessel conditions, saying this posed a significant threat to public health and needed to be urgently addressed.
Speaking during the Mater Heart Run event held at Kericho Teachers and Training College, Kericho County Executive Committee Member (CECM) in Charge of Health, Ms. Brenda Bii, said all efforts were in place to ensure medical facilities were equipped to attend to emergency heart issues and efficient referrals to Mater Hospital.
“We are committed as a county to assist all children from backgrounds that are disadvantaged in ensuring that they get the medical attention that they need. We are also working with the County Assembly to ensure that our health facilities are well equipped,” said Bii.
She further mentioned that to date, over 4,500 heart procedures have been performed at Mater Hospital by Kenyan doctors, with a few being referred overseas or performed by visiting cardiologists.
Mater Misericordiae Hospital treats a variety of heart diseases, including coronary artery disease, heart arrhythmias, heart failure, heart valve disease, pericardial disease, cardiomyopathy, and congenital heart disease.
The Mater Heart Run, which was initially held only in Nairobi, has been devolved into several counties to raise awareness and funds for the treatment of children with heart disease.
Students from different primary and secondary schools who participated in the charity event included Chebwagan boys, Korongoi girls, Moi Teas girls, Kericho Primary, ACK Holy Trinity Academy, and Chepseon Complex Academy.
The run seeks to continually raise money for the purpose of funding financially disadvantaged children in desperate need of cardiac surgery.
KNA by Daizy Chebet and Melvine Chepngetich
