Non- communicable Diseases
By PETER ORENGO
Research findings show that the Kenyan poor population is at risk of non-communicable diseases of the rich such as cancer, diabetes , hypertention and cardiovascular ailments just like the rich.
The findings by the Division of Non-communicable diseases in the Public Health Ministry say the diseases previousl y known as the “diseases of the rich”, kill over 100,000 kenyans every year regardless of their economic status.
The diseases are strongly associated with behaviours of tobacco use, physical inactivity, unhealthy diet and exessive alcohol, with the poor having the highest risk of reaching chronic levels due to their poor financial status.
“We found out that the overall prevalence of hypertention is at 27 per cent, diabetes 4 per cent and rheumatic heart affecting 2 per cent in school goping children. They also increase with age,” said Dr William Maina of the Division of non comunicable diseases.
He said cancer is the third cause od deaths after infectious disease and cardiovascular ailments. Paradoxically, there are only five clinical oncologists, four medical oncologist and about eight oncologists in kenya according to Kenyatta National Hospital’s Cancer unit’s report-2011.
The findings were presected before a together technical experts meeting on noo-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Nairobi.
The team of 50 experts from across Africa had been meeting to delibarate on NCD reseach priorities nwith a view to improve trhe health quality of people in sub-Saharan Africa.
Higher Education Minister Magret Kamar who precided over the meeting said there was need to restructure the health delivery system in the country and shift emphasis to preventive haelth care to lower the nations disease burden.
“ Kenya like other low income countries is experiencing increase in diabetes, heart disease, cancer, chronic lung, neurological, psychiatric diseases and injury even before communicable diseasaes like malaria, HIV and TB have been brought under control,” said Ms Kamar.
The minister referred to the 2011Global Medicin report which put kenya as a high risk prevalent country with 82,000 new cases being reported annually. The most common forms of cancer in kenya are breasr, cervix, prostrate and oesophageal cancers.
“ This is due to the eating habits of kenyans, especially in urban areas which exposes them to cancer,” said the Minister.
She said the economic toll from thses diseases is divastating to the family, and the economy leading tothe loss of billions of shillings in health care costs. Kamar said more reaserch and data did to be done on non-communicable diseases, including training of human resource.
Ends.
