KENYA – Nakuru County Government in Kenya has launched an innovative digital health solution dubbed Empower Health System with an aim to improve on primary health care delivery for non-communicable Diseases (NCDs).
Noncommunicable diseases also known as chronic diseases are the result of a combination of genetic, physiological, environmental and behavioral factors such as harmful use of alcohol and tobacco, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, raised blood pressure to name a few.
The main types of NCDs are cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks and stroke, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma as well as diabetes.
Diabetes and hypertension are the most prevalent chronic diseases that have been recorded in Nakuru County. The NDCs are the major causes of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality rates in the population within the County.
The introduction of the Empower Health concept in Nakuru which has recorded improvements in dealing with disease complications seeks to intensify the fight against diabetes and hypertension diseases.
The digital Empower Health system will enable patients to access regular blood pressure and blood glucose checks at home on the mobile applications in an effort to reduce burden of the non-communicable diseases.
The mobile apps will also help users to track their glucose and blood pressure data, integrate with a glucose meter or home blood pressure cuff for easy data transfer and generate reports summarizing the data for the health care team.
Additionally, the digital health system will provide integrated, facility-level and community-level tools along with information geared towards improving disease awareness, support screening and referral activities.
The digital health tools will provide members with contextual, customized in-app or on-demand coaching about self-care with appropriate prompts to contact their healthcare providers if and when need be.
Moreover, the Nakuru County Government has partnered with the Ministry of Health, Novo Nordisk and Medtronic Labs to train more than 60 healthcare providers who are currently monitoring patients online.
Special Cancer Clinic launched in Homabay
Meanwhile, Kenya has unveiled a special cancer clinic at Homa Bay Teaching and Referral Hospital situated in Homa Bay County to support the fight against cancer.
Homa Bay County Governor Cyprian Awiti launched the cancer clinic courtesy of County First Ladies’ Association (CFLA) and partners in a move to enhance early cancer detection, diagnosis, screening and treatment.
Governor Awiti confirmed that the county government has allocated KES50 million (US$430,000) in the 2022/2023 Financial Year to ensure the clinic is fully equipped and has enough qualified health personnel to boost the health sector in the county.
He further applauded the CFLA for coming up with cancer clinic in different counties for early cancer detection which improves the chances of successful treatment.
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