The Ministry of Health (MoH), in collaboration with Doctors for Healthy Living (D4HL) and The National Treasury, conducted a staff wellness screening session at the National Treasury Building.
During the exercise, 154 staff members were screened and received personalized medical advice from dedicated healthcare professionals. This initiative was conducted under D4HL’s flagship ‘Know Your Numbers’ campaign, which educates individuals on five critical health indicators:
- Blood Pressure
- Blood Sugar
- Cholesterol Level
- Waist Circumference
- Body Mass Index (BMI)
Dr. Gladwell Gathecha, the Director of MoH’s Division of Cancer and NCDs, emphasized the importance of this ongoing collaboration. “I am happy to say that we partnered with D4HL, a well-known organisation that has been at the forefront on promoting wellness initiatives… We will continue to work with D4HL to ensure that more Kenyans are screened and educated,” she stated.
The timing of the screening precedes World Diabetes Day 2025 (WDD 2025), globally commemorated on November 14th under the theme, “Diabetes and Well-being at the Workplace.”
This theme draws attention to the daily challenges faced by millions managing diabetes within the professional environment. According to the International Diabetes Federation, seven in 10 people living with diabetes are of working age, and four in five experience diabetes burnout. Factors like stigma, discrimination, and exclusion in the workplace can negatively affect their health, productivity, and overall wellbeing, contributing to reduced national economic performance.
The urgency of these preventive screenings is underscored by the rising incidence of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in Kenya. The Director General of Health, Dr. Patrick Amoth, noted during the launch of the National Clinical Guidelines on Management of Diabetes Melitus that this rise is explained by an increasingly aging and urbanising population undergoing a public health shift from infectious diseases to NCDs and injuries.
Key statistics highlight the national challenge:
- The 2018 Kenya National Diabetes Study estimates that diabetes affects 4.5 percent of the population, with a higher prevalence among men and older adults.
- A 2022 Cost of Illness Study estimated the annual cost of diabetes in Kenya at a staggering Ksh. 24.6 billion, with urban areas bearing a higher economic burden.
The main national commemoration for World Diabetes Day 2025, led by the Ministry of Health, will be held at Nairobi West Prison Grounds on Friday, November 14th, 2025. The event will involve collaboration with the Nairobi City County Government and partners including the NCD Alliance of Kenya, World Diabetes Foundation, Kenya Red Cross Society, and others.