Nairobi: The National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK), is raising alarms over the escalating pandemic of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in the country. The organization is calling for immediate government action to declare these diseases a national emergency, highlighting their significant impact on public health.

According to Kenya News Agency, more than 50 percent of hospitalizations and 39 percent of deaths in Kenya are attributed to NCDs. During a two-day forum dedicated to reviewing the State of the Nation, Rev Dr Alphonse Kanga, Chairman of the NCCK Nairobi Region, emphasized the need for governmental intervention. He urged the government to declare NCDs a national emergency to ensure adequate attention and resource allocation.

Rev Dr Kanga criticized the current funding allocation, indicating that only Sh 8 billion has been allotted to the National Strategy on Non-Communicable Diseases (2022-2026), which falls short of the Sh 37 billion budget. He expressed concern over inadequate human and fin
ancial resources dedicated to managing NCDs, describing it as a disregard for the suffering and mortality of Kenyans.

Furthermore, Rev Dr Kanga called for measures to regulate the consumption of high levels of sugars, salts, and saturated fats. He advocated for educational initiatives on healthy diets and the implementation of front-pack warning labels on food products to safeguard public health. He urged both national and county governments to enact laws requiring food processors to include these labels and to address the advertising of unhealthy foods to children.

The NCCK also recommended the adoption of a nutrient profile model to set acceptable nutrient levels across various food groups. Additionally, Rev Dr Kanga advised reverting to the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) until the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) is fully operational. He highlighted issues with SHIF’s implementation, which has led to increased premiums without corresponding benefits, urging for a suspension of SHIF until it is
properly structured.

The forum, themed ‘Policy Framework for Healthy Lives,’ underscored the urgent need for comprehensive policies addressing the NCD epidemic in Kenya. Non-Communicable Diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases, and cancer, remain the leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally, with significant impacts on Kenya’s healthcare system.