Diabetes is on the rise in Kenya.
A World Health Organization report in 2014 states that of the estimated 1.5 million global diabetes deaths in 2012, more than 80% occurred in low and middle income countries. Furthermore, at least 1% of deaths in Kenya were directly attributed to diabetes in the same year.
The rising costs of health care have caused some people to limit their trips to the doctor. And as a result, most Kenyans do not even know they have diabetes until the arising complications compel them to seek treatment, or after attending medical camps where they get diagnosed.
The Kenyan Government has made the prevention and control of Non-Communicable Diseases (which includes Diabetes) priority issues in their National Medium Term Plan (2014-2018) and National Health Strategic Plan (2014-2018). Medical students are being trained on the prevention, treatment and care for people with diabetes.
The WHO has also put in place a global action plan for the prevention and control of Non-Communicable Diseases, backed by the World Health Assembly in 2013. The key goals include 'halting the rise in obesity and diabetes', and achieving a 20% relative reduction in prematire mortality from diabetes by the year 2025.
We are building a community of people living with diabetes and people who know others living with the disease and would like to know more. If you are interested, please fill in this form.
With time we will be giving out more details about the community and what we seek to accomplish.
