Ecobank, Red Cross campaign against lifestyle diseases

In bid to help control and prevent the spread of non-communicable diseases across the country, Ecobank has partnered with Kenya Red Cross Society to raise awareness and educate Kenyans about the diseases which have continued to claim the lives of many.

The move to launch the three-year campaign targeting close to four million Kenyans was announced by Ecobank Kenya Managing Director Cheikh Travaly.

Mr Travaly, who is also the Ecobank regional executive for central, eastern and southern Africa, said the non-communicable diseases have caused untold sufferings to many families in Kenya.

BETTER HEALTH

The campaign commenced on Saturday with a walk and free diabetes and hypertension screening in Mombasa and Nakuru counties during the bank’s seventh year celebrations under the theme of ‘Together for better health’.

It targets to reach 4,000 people every month, translating to about four million people in three years.

Mr Travaly said the bank will commit its resources as its contribution to local communities and to making a demonstrable difference in the health and wellbeing of Kenyans.

“Non-communicable diseases are not only a scourge across Africa but also here in Kenya, causing premature deaths and untold misery to countless families.

“They can affect anyone at any age but there are things that each of us can do to reduce the risk factors of contracting them. We will commit our resources for the next three years as our contribution to our local communities and also as a way of making a demonstrable difference to their health and wellbeing,” he said in Mombasa.

PRIMARY HEALTHCARE

On her part, Dr Asha Mohammed, the Kenya Red Cross secretary general designate, noted that investing in primary healthcare remains a critical aspect in the society’s health pillar.

“Non-communicable diseases form a major part of the Kenya Red Cross Society’s interventions in health. We continue to work with the national and county governments to build individual and family resilience through prevention, disease surveillance and promotion of overall wellbeing,” she said.

The ailments include cardiovascular diseases (heart attacks, strokes), diabetes, cancer and chronic respiratory diseases among others.

DEATHS

The World Health Organisation estimates that non-communicable diseases kill 41 million people every year globally, and that the citizens of low and middle income countries, including those in Africa, are particularly at risk, accounting for 32 million of these deaths each year.

Currently, over 50 percent of inpatient admissions in all health facilities in Kenya are as a result of complications from these types of diseases while 40 percent of all hospital deaths in the country are caused by non-communicable diseases.

Ecobank Day, which has been marked since 2013, has involved its Kenyan staff and management who give their free time for deserving causes in local communities and these have included support for orphanages, safer water, ICT education, maternal health, children’s education, malaria prevention and community engagement projects.