Vihiga:UNICEF is set to screen nearly 50,000 children aged zero to 19 years in Vihiga and Isiolo counties for four Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) through a three-year initiative valued at USD 600,000.
According to Kenya News Agency, the program will focus on type 1 diabetes, sickle cell disease, asthma, and heart diseases. These conditions are increasingly affecting children, making early detection and management crucial.
Mike Olonyo Endovo, Vihiga County Non-Communicable Diseases Coordinator, highlighted that the initiative emerged after identifying a gap in the screening and management of NCDs among children. The program aims to screen approximately 30,000 children in Vihiga and 20,000 in Isiolo, to identify diseases early and link affected children to appropriate care.
Endovo noted that the prevalence of these diseases is high, necessitating early-stage screening. He emphasized that children have often been overlooked in NCD interventions, resulting in gaps in healthcare services.
The program will also develop and validate materials for caregivers before rollout. It plans to establish support groups and provide sensitization for teachers, parents, caregivers, and media on the four conditions.
Sophie Omutere, a Clinical Officer at Vihiga Teaching and Referral Hospital, explained that some children are born with these conditions while others develop them early in life, presenting a variety of symptoms. She stressed the importance of insulin for children with type 1 diabetes and the need for proper management of asthma with inhalers.
Omutere underscored the importance of sensitizing parents, teachers, and caregivers on supporting children with these conditions, noting that increased awareness can lead to better early identification, management, and quality of life for children living with NCDs.
