Egerton University staff and students, together with those from Boitekanelo College of Health Sciences, Botswana, joined the Mangu Diabetic Support Group in a community nutrition outreach activity to mark this year’s World Diabetes Day at Mangu Health Centre in Rongai Sub-County, Nakuru County. The event, which was celebrated on Sunday 14 November 2021, was also attended by staff from the Nakuru County Health Department led by Dr. Benedict Osore. Dr. Osore, who was the chief guest at the event, is the Director of Medical Services for Nakuru County. According to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), the global theme for 2021-2023 World Diabetes Day is ‘Access to Diabetes Care’.
Students from Egerton University’s Department of Food, Nutrition & Dietetics (FOND), Boitekanelo College’s Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, and Clinical Nutritionists from Nakuru Level 5 Hospital facilitated the nutrition education and counselling of diabetic patients and clients. The Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics experts assessed the client’s nutritional status by checking their weights, heights and body mass index (BMI). The checking of blood pressure and random blood sugar testing were performed by medical staff from Mangu Health Centre and ACK – Imani Medical Centre, Kiamunyi, who also gave free diabetes medicines and a talk on diabetes care. Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) also supported the team through mobilization of the community and follow-ups.
In his remarks, the Chief Guest, Dr. Osore, noted that diabetes accounts for 63% of all the deaths caused by non-communicable diseases world-wide. He regretted that many diabetes patients who were vulnerable to the Covid-19 pandemic had either lost their lives or spent a lot of funds to treat Covid-19 complications. Vaccination, he noted, still remained the best weapon to fight Covid-19 especially among people with pre-existing conditions like diabetes.
Statistics from the UN show that the global prevalence of diabetes has nearly doubled since 1980, rising from 4.7% to 8.5% in the adult population. This reflects an increase in associated risk factors such as being overweight or obese. Over the past decade, diabetes prevalence has risen faster in low and middle-income countries than in high-income countries. “Diabetes prevalence is on the rise in Kenya especially in Central, Rift Valley, Nyanza and parts of Western Kenya. Kenya’s diabetes prevalence rate stands at 2.4% compared to 1.4% for Uganda,” said Dr. Osore.
Dr. Osore thanked Egerton University and Boitekanelo College for collaborating with the Nakuru County Health Department in community extension and outreach activities and quality healthcare training aimed at enhancing health services in Nakuru and beyond. He noted that through research and innovation, Nakuru County will work together with Egerton University and other medical training institutions to roll out the national government new non-communicable disease strategy which has outlined mechanisms to fight diabetes through advocacy, empowerment, capacity building, partnerships, policy on non-communicable diseases, research, and monitoring & evaluation.
Thato Gokatweng, Thato Makgetho and Nyalazdani Boitshwarelo from Boitekanelo College, supported by Egerton University students from FOND Department, were the key trainers on mechanisms for improving nutrition and health outcomes, dietary management for diabetes, and lifestyle management and monitoring of diabetes. The three are pursuing Bachelor of Science degree in Nutrition and Dietetics at Botswana’s Boitekanelo College and are on an exchange programme at Egerton University. The community members were also trained on how to prepare diabetic diets and provided with recipes and menus. The aim of the training was to educate community members on how to manage diabetes through diet and lifestyle controls. Diabetes is a major cause of blindness, kidney failure, heart attack, stroke and lower limb amputation. Healthy diet, physical activity and avoiding tobacco use can prevent or delay type 2 diabetes. In addition, diabetes can be treated and its consequences avoided or delayed with medication, regular screening and treatment for complications.
The other speakers at the training included Dr. Maureen Cheserek who is the Nutrition and Dietetics Internship Coordinator and a Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics Lecturer at Egerton University and Mr. Samwel Mbugua who is also a lecturer in FOND. Others were Ms. Winnie Kerewo (Rongai Sub-county Nutrition Officer), Ms. Jemimah Bonareri (Diabetic Clinic Nutrition Officer, Nakuru Level Five Hospital), and Ms. Mina (ACK – Imani Medical Centre), among others. Dr. Masaya Hillary Chakava (Egerton University Alumni Relations Coordinator) acknowledged Ms. Kerewo and Ms. Bonareri who are both Egerton University FOND Alumni.
