Stakeholders Call for Urgent Action to Curb Rising Cases of Non-Communicable Diseases in Isiolo
Health stakeholders have called for urgent interventions to address the rising burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Isiolo County, urging increased public awareness, healthier dietary practices and stricter enforcement of food labelling regulations.
The stakeholders say growing cases of diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, cancer, asthma and mental health conditions pose an increasing challenge to the health sector, calling for concerted efforts by government agencies, manufacturers and communities to reverse the trend.
Speaking during a stakeholders’ meeting convened by NCD Alliance Kenya in Isiolo, the organisation’s Programmes Officer, Gideon Ayole, said a policy proposal had been presented to the National Assembly to strengthen regulations governing food labelling and help consumers make healthier choices.
Ayole said Kenya had revised its Nutrient Profile Model, which provides a framework for assessing the nutritional composition of food products and informing consumers about their contents.
He noted that proper implementation of the proposed regulations would require manufacturers to comply with established standards by providing clear and accurate nutritional information on product packaging.
According to Ayole, transparent food labelling would enable consumers to identify the levels of sugar, salt, fats and other nutrients in processed foods before purchasing them, ultimately helping reduce exposure to unhealthy diets associated with NCDs.
The concerns come amid growing alarm over the burden of non-communicable diseases, which are increasingly becoming a major public health challenge in Kenya.
Isiolo County NCD Coordinator Joyce Mwende said approximately 50 per cent of patients seeking healthcare in the county’s hospitals were suffering from non-communicable diseases.
Mwende further reported a 10 per cent increase in NCD cases in the county, with diabetes showing a worrying upward trend, including among children below the age of 10.
She identified hypertension as the leading NCD reported in the county, with asthma and other chronic conditions also contributing to the growing disease burden.
Mwende attributed much of the concern to unhealthy dietary habits and called on residents to embrace healthier lifestyles, including balanced diets, regular physical activity and routine medical check-ups.
She emphasised that prevention, early detection and timely treatment were essential in reducing complications associated with NCDs.
Meanwhile, Mirrium Githaiga said a community-based group had been established to work directly with residents, identify people living with non-communicable diseases and support them in managing their conditions.
Githaiga said the initiative focuses on educating patients about healthy living, proper nutrition and the importance of making informed dietary choices.
She observed that limited awareness of healthy eating habits remained a major challenge, with many people lacking adequate information on the nutritional value of the foods they consume.
She also urged food manufacturers to adhere to existing and proposed food safety and labelling requirements, noting that compliance was necessary to protect consumers from products with excessive levels of unhealthy nutrients.
The stakeholders called for stronger collaboration between county and national governments, health organisations, civil society groups and the private sector to intensify community education and promote preventive healthcare.
They further stressed the need to take awareness campaigns to schools, markets, health facilities and local communities to encourage early screening and healthier lifestyle choices.
Non-communicable diseases are generally long-term conditions that are not transmitted from person to person. They are associated with a combination of genetic, physiological, environmental and behavioural factors. Major risk factors include tobacco use, harmful alcohol consumption, physical inactivity and unhealthy diets.
Health experts maintain that many NCDs can be prevented or their impact reduced through early diagnosis, improved access to healthcare, healthier food environments and sustained public awareness campaigns.
The stakeholders say addressing the growing burden of NCDs requires a shift from focusing mainly on treatment to investing more in prevention, community education and policies that promote healthier living.
