Mrs. Mercy Njiru, spouse to Commander Kenya Army and member of the Military Wives Association of Kenya (MWAK) on 09th March 2023 joined Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) personnel, staff and patients at Nairobi Regional Hospital and Defence Forces Memorial Hospital to commemorate the World Kidney Day. This year’s theme for the day is ‘Preparing for the unexpected, supporting the Vulnerable’. World Kidney Day is celebrated every second Thursday in March with an aim of raising awareness on the importance of kidneys to human health and reducing the impact of kidney diseases and its associated problems worldwide.
Mrs. Njiru used the platform to sensitise KDF personnel, staff and patients to take care of their general health in order to avoid health conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure which are key risk factors causing chronic kidney disease. She further advocated for preventive measures to avoid kidney diseases saying the treatment option is expensive.
‘‘Prevention is better than cure. All of us have a responsibility to take care of our heath which will help in reducing the risk of contracting diseases that lead to kidney diseases. Choosing healthy lifestyles which encompass strict adherence to heath diets is critical in combatting kidney diseases,’’ said Mrs. Njiru.
Mrs. Njiru also urged the KDF personnel and their families to attend regular screening for conditions that lead to kidney diseases so as to get early medical attention in case they are detected with any condition.
Nairobi Regional Hospital Chief Medical Officer Brigadier (Dr) James Mwika said the Kenya Defence Forces leadership remains committed to providing quality health services to its personnel and their dependents in its comprehensive welfare policy.
The Ministry of Health estimates that there are around 1.8 million people suffering from chronic kidney diseases in Kenya. Further, the ministry projects that kidney diseases will be the fifth leading cause of premature deaths in the world by 2040. Health experts explain that poor control of non-communicable diseases, late diagnosis and limited access to renal services are key factors that have contributed to increased chronic cases of kidney diseases in the country.
Globally, high blood pressure and diabetes are the most common causes of chronic kidney diseases and kidney failure.
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