Over 300 residents of Thingithu Ward in Laikipia County received free medical check-ups and advise in a medical camp on the need to prioritize preventive measures to combat the rise in lifestyle diseases.
During the camp, residents were screened for prostate cancer, which medics decried was on the rise, yet a majority of men rarely get checked only to realize the condition while in its advanced stages.
Speaking during the event, Laikipia Deputy Governor Rueben Kamuri, who organized the camp under the Kamuri Foundation, emphasized that prostate cancer left households vulnerable due to high treatment costs and encouraged men to embrace screening for early diagnosis.
“Men are the pillars of society and families, always on the front line, and I am happy they have turned in large numbers for treatment. We are encouraging early detection and screening for healthier counties,” said the Deputy Governor.
Other treatments included blood pressure, diabetes, treatment of non-communicable ailments, and training by nutritionists on healthy living, among others.
“The medical camp focused on preventive health care, including getting checked for non-communicable diseases, including high blood pressure, diabetes, and prostate cancer,” said Kamuri.
On their part, beneficiaries lamented that county facilities have lately been facing serious challenges on service delivery including frequent strikes by medics and persistent shortage of drugs and called on the national government to take over running of county health facilities.
“We have a lot of challenges in our county hospitals, when you visit, you’re told no drugs or even bandages, we are not benefitting. Frequent medics strikes is another pressing issue and I beseech county health facilities to be reverted back to National government,” said Grace Muthoni, one of the beneficiaries.
Health is one of the devolved functions as per the 2010 Constitution but for years now, it has been plagued by poor service delivery that has resorted to loss of lives in preventable circumstances.
The Laikipia Deputy Governor who has previously clashed with his boss over alleged failure to fully equip Nanyuki and Nyahururu Level four hospitals announced that Kamuri Foundation would work towards providing essential support to vulnerable groups.
Kamuri, a health expert, said his mission is nonpolitical and he would seek support from partners in his efforts to reduce the prevalence of preventable diseases in central Kenya.
By Muturi Mwangi
