Kajiado: Over 400 Kajiado residents have been screened for diabetes and high blood pressure at the Kajiado County Referral Hospital during the commemoration of World Diabetes Day. Backson Likama, Kajiado County Coordinator for Non-communicable Diseases, emphasized the universal risk of diabetes, urging everyone to get screened, as early detection simplifies disease management.
According to Kenya News Agency, Likama highlighted that both young and old individuals are susceptible to diabetes, advocating for routine screenings. He reassured residents that a diabetes diagnosis is not life-ending and that individuals can maintain a full life with proper management. Untreated diabetes, he warned, can lead to severe complications such as blindness, kidney failure, lower limb amputation, stroke, and heart attack.
Likama encouraged the community to utilize trained community health promoters, equipped with glucometers and pressure machines, for diabetes screening and advice. He advised those diagnosed to seek specia
lized care at Kajiado Referral Hospital, where nutritionists and specialists are available. Likama noted a rising trend in diabetes cases in Kajiado County, particularly in densely populated towns like Kitengela and Ngong, with 11,050 cases reported in 2023.
In addition to screenings, residents were educated on preventive measures against diabetes. Likama advocated for a balanced diet and regular physical exercise as key preventive strategies. Emily Mankura, founder of Indigenous Children with Diabetes, highlighted the challenges faced by diabetic children in Kajiado, particularly in remote areas lacking screening facilities. She called for county government support to provide balanced diets for needy diabetic children, who often rely on daily insulin shots but lack adequate nutrition.