CLERGY IN NAIROBI REGION URGE GOVERNMENT TO DECLARE NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASES (NCDs) A NATIONAL EMERGENCY.

BY NJOKI KARANJA. 

Clergy and church leaders from Nairobi and Kiambu counties have gathered for a two-day forum at Jumuia Conference and Country Home in Limuru, addressing the escalating crisis of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in Kenya. This urgent call comes as NCDs now account for over 50% of hospitalizations and 39% of deaths in the country, surpassing accidents as the leading cause of death.

The religious leaders, part of the Nairobi Region of the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK), have appealed to the government to prioritize NCDs by declaring them a national emergency. They expressed concern over the inadequate resources allocated to combat the epidemic, with the National Strategy for NCDs receiving only KShs 8 billion out of a KShs 377 billion budget for health.

The forum also highlighted the crucial role of diet in preventing NCDs, with leaders calling for nationwide education campaigns on healthy eating habits and the introduction of clear, front-of-pack warning labels on food products. They also demanded tighter regulations on unhealthy food advertising, particularly those targeting children.

Additionally, the clergy urged the government to reconsider the recent shift from the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) to the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), citing challenges in access to healthcare. They recommended suspending the transition until SHIF’s structures are fully operational.

The leaders concluded by urging families to use the school holidays to engage children in productive activities, emphasizing the importance of parental guidance in protecting children from harmful media influences.

In their call for action, the church leaders reminded the nation of the biblical mandate for good health, invoking scripture from Exodus 23:25, which promises divine blessing on food and water for those who worship God.