Relief for diabetes patients as centre is opened in Nakuru

A multi-million diabetes care centre has opened its doors to patients from Nakuru and its environs.

The facility at the Nakuru Level Five Hospital will serve nine other counties besides Nakuru, with an estimate of 150 diabetic patients expected daily.

The diabetes management facility was officially unveiled on Friday as latest statistics indicated that more than 8,000 adults die annually from diabetes related diseases in Kenya.

This translates to an average of 24 deaths every day.

According to a report by the Novo Nordisk, a Danish based company, the estimated number of people with diabetes in Kenya is projected to grow up to 135 per cent by the year 2040.

The opening of the Centre of Excellence for diabetes at the Nakuru Level Five hospital was through a partnership between the Ministry of health, Nakuru County government and Novo Nordisk.

The facility, constructed at Sh10 million will not only offer affordable medication to diabetic patients but will also use modern technology for diagnosis.

Nakuru county health executive officer Dr Kabii Mungai said the facility is equipped to track the history of patients.

“The facility will not only serve patients from Nakuru but up to nine neighbouring counties,” Dr Mungai said during the ceremony.

Danish ambassador to Kenya Ms Mette Knudsen said the centre will provide treatment for all types of illnesses associated with diabetes which include blood pressure.

“The facility will enable the doctors to have a comprehensive report about the patient before commencing the treatment unlike before,” said Ms Knudsen.

Nakuru Deputy Governor Mr Joseph Ruto attended the event.

One of the patients at the hospital’s diabetes clinic Mr Benson Kinyua was upbeat about the centre’s opening.

Mr Kinyua who has been battling diabetes for the last five years, said he was diagnosed during a a random check-up in the hospital.

The father of 11 said that managing the disease has been challenging since he needs about Sh1000 every month to buy insulin and drugs for other complications.

“When you have diabetes you become prone to a lot of infections including constant flu,” he said.

However, Mr Kinyua said that he hoped the new centre will help reduce the amount of money he spends monthly insulin and test his sugar level regularly.

According to a clinical officer in charge of the diabetes clinic Ms Sarah Ng’otwa, the disease has been a major burden at the hospital.

At the same time Novo Nordisk has sponsored a programme dubbed changing diabetes in children; where children below 18 years are given free insulin and syringes.

If untreated, diabetes can lead to blindness, heart attack, kidney failure and lower limb amputation.