Low-income families and the elderly are set to benefit immensely from a digital platform launched by the county’s Department of Health in collaboration with the World Diabetes Foundation (WDF).
This platform will assist in the treatment and management of non-communicable diseases like hypertension and diabetes.
Designed by Medtronic Labs, the platform will facilitate swift consultations, tests, treatment, and monitoring of patients' progress.
According to County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Health, Roselyn Mungai, this groundbreaking initiative integrates non-communicable diseases (NCD) into the primary healthcare model, which is already operational in the 11 sub-counties.
“The model aligns with Governor Susan Kihika’s manifesto on prioritising the strengthening of support systems for chronic disease management,” Mungai stated while addressing workers from Kuresoi South and Rongai sub-counties during the induction.
More inductions are scheduled to be rolled out in different phases in the remaining nine sub-counties.
As per the Ministry of Health's STEPS report, the prevalence of hypertension has increased over the past 20 years, with more than 56 percent of Kenyans having never had a blood pressure check.
Devastatingly, only 22.3 percent (one in five) of those diagnosed with hypertension are undergoing treatment.
With the platform, both physicians and patients will have seamless interaction, allowing physicians to track patients on medication, monitor their condition, and identify those who default on their medication.
The platform, moreover, enables patients to input their blood pressure and blood sugar levels and receive feedback and alerts to visit the nearest health facility if their levels are out of range.
Additionally, if a patient is not doing well, the doctor receives an instant notification.
