Siaya Commemorates World Diabetes Day with Focus on Resident’s Access to Palliative Care

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Siaya County on Thursday commemorated the World Diabetes Day with an amazing display of support from both the private sector and county admininistration.

Photos by Samson Wire, Directorate of Communication, Siaya County Government.

The colourful celebrations held at KMTC grounds were preceded by a sensitisation march from the county headquarters through the streets of the town.

Residents urged the government to up-scale medical care by providing additional facilities for proper maintenance and control of the surge of diabetes in the County.

In line with this year’s theme Diabetes and Wellbeing the county government told of it’s strategy to see that residents access palliative care.

Speaking during the celebrations County Health CEC Dr. Martin K’Onyango assured residents that measures are being taken to ensure palliative care is provided at the grassroots level.

“Siaya County Government has utilized the existence of Community Health Workers popularly known as Nyamrerua to spread the awareness about diabetes in the county and help in carrying out the palliative care, which have reduced persistent cases of new infections,” said Health CECM K’Onyango.

Health CECM Dr. Martin K’Onyango.

Diabetes is a condition that occurs when blood sugar is excessively high. It is preceded by cases of the pancreas being unable to manufacture sufficient insulin. Initially the condition was associated with obesity and a sedentary lifestyle but its sudden spread in rural Africa is a subject of ongoing research. It is estimated that by 2030 the disease will have afflicted 23.9 million people in Africa posing a serious challenge to the economy of the continent.

Officials who spoke at KMTC grounds called for early screening and management whenever patients suspect they may have symptoms of diabetes.

The event was livened by parades, ohangla crooner Otieno Aloka and a very intriguing sign language interpreter from the Siaya County Directorate of Communication.

Fortunately in Siaya County the community health volunteers are empowered to offer palliative care for patients suffering from diabetes.

Top: leaders planting trees to mark the event, bottom: leaders conducting an inspection of the palliative care unit for diabetic patients at the Siaya County Referral Hospital

Also present were the County Secretary Mr. Joseph Ogutu who read a powerful speech on behalf of Governor James Orengo, Ministry of Health Head of non-Communicable diseases Dr. Gladwel Gathecha, and Director of Public Communications Mr. Chrisphine Omondi among others.