President William Ruto is under pressure to declare four diseases, responsible for 39 per cent of deaths in Kenya, a national emergency.
The National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) has in a statement called on the head of state to address concerns over Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) including cancer, hypertension, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
The Council has noted that the diseases are also responsible for more than 50 per cent of hospitalizations, and are exerting a heavy burden on Kenyan families.
Further, the statement has explained that the above-mentioned illnesses are consuming more than 77 per cent of the total health expenditure of families.
“On average, it costs a patient approximately Ksh130,000 per year to manage a Non-Communicable Disease that does not have complications,” the statement read in part.
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Despite the concern, NCCK noted that the benefits proposed under the Social Health Authority/ Social Health Insurance Fund (SHA/SHIF) are way below the average used by families.
Consequently, patients are required to pay from their pockets for medical care and medication.
“We are already seeing this happening. We call upon the government, upon necessary recommendation from the Ministry of Health, to declare NCDs a national emergency to facilitate a keen focus on addressing this emerging national threat,” added the council.
On the other hand, the council explained that the rise in the prevalence of NCDs has been driven by the change in diet.
This especially being seen in people of all ages who increasingly consume foods that are high in salt, high in saturated fats and oils, and high in sugar.
“The main source of these unhealthy nutrients are highly processed foods and beverages, and heavily marketed on media and other social structures.”
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Therefore, the council has proposed regulations and policies that Ruto can effect, to facilitate the regulation of the consumption of these nutrients.
These include the regulation of advertisements of unhealthy foods, especially those that are high in sugar, salt and saturated fats and oils, especially those that are targeted at children.
Also, the church leaders have called for a ban on the use of children or children-like characters in advertisements for unhealthy foods.
“Among other elements, the regulations should curtail the placement of advertisements for foods high in the nutrients of concern near schools or during the water-shed hours when children are likely to be consuming media.”
Further, they have called for the introduction of warning labels for food products.
“The warning should clearly state the quantity of salt, sugar and saturated fats and oils in the product. These labels will enable families to make prudent choices when purchasing food items.”
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