News

A new study by the Department of Health Services and the ARUA Centre of Excellence for Non-Communicable Diseases at the University of Nairobi has revealed statistics on the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and caregiving in Makueni County.

According to the research, which was conducted among a study sample size of 155 caregivers, they reported the majority of the recepients of care suffered from comorbidity (more than one non-communicable disease). Majority of the recipients of care were diagnosed with hypertension (74.1%), followed by diabetes at 37.8%, chronic respiratory diseases at 8.4%, cancer at 6.3%, and other cardiovascular diseases at 3.5%.

_NB: These are proportions from a small study sample._

The findings also highlight the disproportionate burden of caregiving, with 69% of caregivers being women compared to 31% men.

Among care recipients, women account for 65%, while only 1% of caregivers receive payment, leaving 99% unpaid.

Speaking during the dissemination meeting on Thursday at the Mother and Child Hospital, Makueni Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili cautioned against leaving children with caregiving responsibilities, terming it a violation of their right to education.

She reaffirmed the county’s commitment to work with the national government once the proposed national NCD caregiver policy is developed, to ease the pressure on caregivers already stretched to their limits.

Health CECM Joyce Mutua urged political leaders to embrace the study’s findings and use their platforms to advocate for reducing the rising NCD prevalence.

On his part, Professor Charles Nzioka of the University of Nairobi noted that the ultimate goal is to develop a national NCD policy that recognizes, reduces, and redistributes the burden of care work on women and girls, thereby promoting gender equity and improving their well-being.

At 67, Josaya Mawa knows the high cost of poor lifestyle choices.

A survivor of both diabetes and hypertension since 2009, Mawa lost his right leg to a stroke,a painful consequence he blames on years of heavy drinking and unhealthy eating.

Speaking on Monday at Itumbule Health Center during World Hypertension Day, Muema passionately urged members of the public to adopt healthier lifestyles, warning that neglecting one’s health can have devastating consequences.

Makueni Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili, who led locals,leaders and partners in commemorating the day, announced that the county government has significantly increased funding for the procurement of life-saving drugs to ensure a steady supply of antihypertensive medication in Level 2 and 3 health facilities.

As part of strengthening primary healthcare, the county has also equipped Community Health Promoters with blood pressure monitors to conduct regular household screenings, supporting timely referrals, and following up on patients to ensure proper management.

County Health Executive Dr. Paul Musila revealed that the health department is in the process of digitizing records for hypertension patients across public facilities. The move aims to improve drug management and prevent stockouts.

Dr. Musila also noted that the county will ramp up medical outreaches targeting non-communicable diseases to enhance early detection and treatment.

Makueni County through the Directorate of Strategic Partnerships and Intergovernmental Relations on Wednesday embarked on a 3-day workshop to engage development partners with a view of co-auditing existing collaborations and chat the way forward.

According to Strategic Partnership Director Francis Nthuku, Makueni is a home of numerous and vibrant partners and its development success story cannot be complete without mentioning partnerships.

For instance, he noted, Makueni has been able to implement major flagship projects through collaborations. Some of them include the Wote Public Green Park, the Kalamba Fruit Processing Plant reconstituting line, the Public Participation Model, and the Grain Processing Plant at Makindu.

At the end of the workshop, the partners together with the county departments will identify areas of synergy to create new partnerships and deepen existing working relations to implement more development works to benefit the residents of Makueni.