Email Us : info@kisumu.go.ke | Toll Free Number: 0800 720 575

County Government of Kisumu

  • Home
  • About Us
    • Kisumu County
    • Visit Kisumu
  • County Structure
    • County Executive Members
      • County Executive Members 2022 – 2027
    • County Assembly
    • City of Kisumu
    • County Departments
  • Resources
    • Downloads
    • Public Service Board
    • Job Vacancies
    • International Trade Procedures
    • Speeches and Press Releases
    • County Newsletters
    • Quick Links
      • Electronic Data Management System
      • County-Pro
      • E-Citizen
      • County HelpDesk
      • Visit Kisumu
    • Projects
    • Tenders
    • Gallery
      • Videos
      • Photos
  • News
  • Contact Us
STAFFMAIL

How to End Non-Communicable Diseases.

Tuesday, 28 March 2023 / Published in Health, Uncategorized

How to End Non-Communicable Diseases.

By Lorraine Anyango.

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) menace, must change fundamentally. Non-communicable diseases account for 30 to 50 percent of bed occupancy in hospitals in Kenya. This trend is perpetuated by obesity, being overweight, physical inactivity, and sedentary behavior.

These diseases are principally cardiovascular, diabetes, cancers, and chronic respiratory conditions.

According to Kenya’s stepwise survey, for NCDs Risk factors 2015,28 percent of Kenyans aged between 18 to 69 are either obese or overweight, this percentage is significantly higher in women, standing at 38% while men at 17.5% of the population.

33% of women of reproductive age that is 15 to 49 years are obese, while the proportion of obese women is higher in urban areas, standing at 43% as compared to women in the rural areas accounting for 26%.

This reality framed the reasons why about 20 sub-county nutrition officers from Kisumu and Kakamega undertook five-day healthy diets and physical activities training. The training was filled with fun, much laughter but even better great lessons.

The training of trainers (TOT) was supported by USAID’s ‘Advancing Nutrition’ program currently being implemented in three counties in Kenya. The counties include Kisumu, Kakamega, and Kitui.

The five days were packed with exciting and engaging practicals on varied meal preparation methods, food diaries for specific target groups, conversation on food nutrients, and nutrition sampling of the food items practically after purchasing them at the local market.     

“We have prepared Githeri using a fireless cooker, it was a way of preserving energy, it was fun sorting the maize and beans together, some of us were doing these for the first time and we can wait to go out and train the others.” Mrs. Rael Mwando, Kisumu County Nutrition coordinator said.

The participants prepared yogurt, and they learned and build the most garden as they ventured into food production through home gardening.

The team also had a good opportunity to learn the benefits of physical activities and was also taught how to develop a basic individual exercise plan as well as an assessment of health-related physical fitness.

They tried to push up as well as squat with both heels on the ground, some fell amidst laughter as they learned the importance of dedicating at least 2 hours, 30 mins weekly for moderate intensity aerobics activities such as brisk walking, swimming, cycling, and light weight training.

While taking the team through training, the National Coordinator for Health Diets and Lifestyles, Leila Odhiambo said that so far about 150 nutritionists have been trained countywide while emphasizing there is a need to cascade the training to the grassroots level so that a positive impact can be registered.

“The government has committed to global targets to reduce premature mortality due to NCDs by 25% by 2025. These targets included reduction of physical inactivity by 10%, reduction of salt intake by 30% and reduction of raised blood pressure by 25%, and 0% increase in diabetes and obesity.” Mrs. Odhiambo said.

She said that the country is heavily burdened with the management of non-communicable diseases hence its important for the training to be cascaded to reach the population to create a lasting impact.

“I call on counties to allocate resources to cascade this training to the communities” She emphasized.

Dr. Muthoni Gichu underscored the importance of regular physical activity saying that one doesn’t necessarily need to go to the gym but can employ simple exercises whether at home or work to keep away from sedentary behavior.

These include sitting for long hours, using motorized transport all through, watching television for long hours, passive video games, and playing on the computer among others.   

“You need to sleep for at least 8 hours to be productive the next day, you need to have a consistent time when you go to bed and have early dinner so you don’t go to bed with a full stomach.” She said.

“We hope to train other nutritionists, health care workers, and facilities in charge in Kakamega on the importance of healthy diets after which we will embark on a wellness program for the people of Kakamega during which we will sensitize the populace to even grow kitchen gardens in every home.” Mrs Magret Oyugi, Nutrition coordinator Kakamega said.      

Mrs. Mwando said that they were going to utilize the skills gained while offering counseling and guidance to clients at the community level as they gear towards a malnutrition-free county.

“We will do health education at the lowest level in such simple ways, showing communities the benefits of healthy diets.” Mrs. Mwando added.  

” We have learned as nutritionists to live by example, We have been sitting for long hours as we do our work, and now we have learned to integrate physical activities even in the office for us to be healthy.” She said. 

The trained officers are armed with the National guidelines for healthy diets and physical activity notebook and a trainers guide for the same. 

  

Share this Post

Prequalification Lists Archive

PREQUALIFICATION LIST FOR 2020 - 2022

Archives

  • May 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020

Kisumu County Facebook Feeds

County Government of Kisumu

Kisumu County Twitter Feed

Tweets by KisumuCountyKE

Quick Links

  • Careers
  • Tenders
  • Projects
  • Staff Mails
  • County Assembly
  • E-Services
  • County Pro
  • E-Citizen

Quick Links

  • Careers
  • Tenders
  • Projects
  • Staff Mails
  • County Assembly
  • E-Services
  • County Pro
  • E-Citizen

County Government of Kisumu

We transform the livelihood of the people of Kisumu county on a foundation of integrity through accountable, efficient and effective leadership that invokes participation and pursuit of quality services, for a prosperous county that is a harbor of excellence

Get In Touch

Prosperity House (Former Nyanza Provincial Headquarters Building)
P.O. Box 2738-40100, Kisumu.
Email: info@kisumu.go.ke
Website: www.kisumu.go.ke

Quick Links

  • Job Vacancies
  • Downloads
  • Tenders
  • County Assembly
  • Staff Mail
  • County News
  • E-services
  • E-Citizen
  • County Pro
  • 100% Renewables Roadmap
  • County Helpdesk System

Kisumu County Twitter feed

Tweets by KisumuCountyKE

© 2023 All rights reserved. County Government of Kisumu.

TOP