Giant pharma Roche, through its subsidiary Roche Diabetes Care has screened 18,000 people for diabetes in feat that saw the firm hitting critical milestone in plans to reach over 35000 individuals in Meru by end of this year. A further 200 individuals have been trained in diabetes management since November 2024 according to a communication circulated to newsrooms.
The screening is part of the planned activities of the Mwanga Access Program, a collaboration between Non-Communicable Diseases Alliance Kenya (NCD Alliance Kenya), Roche Diabetes Care, and Medtronic LABS, in partnership with the Meru County government, which aims to reach 35,000 individuals by December 2024, bringing them under the umbrella of preventive and early intervention measures.
This program was initiated at a time prevalence of diabetes and pre-diabetes in Kenya is 4.0 % and 15.1 % respectively, for adults aged 20-79. An estimated 5,300 children and adolescents are living with type 1 diabetes in the country.
Commenting on the achievement by the program, Head of Global Commercial Organisation at Roche Diabetes Care, Pedro Goncalves, said the firm believes in partnering with the local community in co-creating sustainable solutions to address the healthcare needs of the countries we operate in.
“We are incredibly proud of the Mwanga Access Program which focuses on creating a holistic care community empowerment program to enable improved outcomes and continued support. We, along with our partners NCD Alliance Kenya and Medtronic Labs, are committed to supporting this initiative to improve access to diabetes care for people living with diabetes in Kenya,” he said.
Out of the more than 18000 people screened, the program has already enrolled 1,475 patients in its care program, with 539 confirmed as diabetic. The robust digital tracking mechanism has achieved an impressive 46.1% follow-up rate and a 51.9% glycemic control rate for those found to have diabetes, demonstrating the program’s effectiveness in ensuring continuous patient engagement and improved outcomes. The program will continue to provide diabetes screening and monitoring equipment and reagents to health facilities, support groups, and community health workers.
The program has successfully built a robust and sustainable model of community to increase the efficiency of healthcare systems according to the press release by the pharma. A total of 60 healthcare professionals ranging from medical officers, clinical officers, pharmacists, nutritionists, and nurses were trained on comprehensive diabetes care, while 20 health records and information officers on data capturing and presentation.
106 community health promoters (CHPs) were trained on basic screening, patient enrollment, follow-up and referral to the link facilities while 22 people living with diabetes and hypertension were trained in advocacy and public participation skills and advocated for effective NCD prevention and control and increased NCD budgetary allocation at the County level.
Non-Communicable Diseases Alliance Kenya Executive Director Catherine Karekezi noted that the program exemplified an innovative public-private partnership designed to address the gaps in diabetes management in Meru County.
“The program’s success highlights the importance of early detection, accessible care, and ongoing support for persons living with diabetes. We commend the commitment of all stakeholders in making this program a success and look forward to further expanding its reach and impact,” she said.
The program utilizes a community-driven comprehensive approach, involving healthcare professionals trained in comprehensive diabetes management, and community health promoters (CHPs), who screen and enroll patients and connect them to linked healthcare facilities. The program established support groups of persons living with diabetes and hypertension in the five linked facilities. Support groups receive diabetes self-management education and are used for group counselling and self-care management education.
Medtronic LABS Head of Business Development and Partnerships Lead Africa, Eric Angula, said the collaboration and dedication of all partners involved in the Mwanga Access Program have been instrumental in its success.
“The integration of digital infrastructure has enabled a robust enrollment and tracking of patients leading to the achievement of an impressive follow-up rate and glycemic control rate, demonstrating the program’s effectiveness in ensuring continuous patient engagement and improved health outcomes,” he said.
