In 2012, Rosemary Wanjohi, a middle aged woman living in Jericho estate in Nairobi, was experiencing chronic fatigue whose cause she could not explain.
Wanjohi was also oblivious of the frequent need to urinate and did not think it was a symptom of an illness.
That was until she suddenly felt dizzy one day while working and fainted, only to wake up in KNH.
“I was so shocked when they told me that my sugar levels were high at 32 millimoles per litre. They had to admit me for two weeks to stabilise me,” she said.
Wanjohi said after she was discharged from the hospital, she went through a period of denial but counselling by medics and her family’s support enabled her to accept the diagnosis and change her lifestyle.
“I was advised to always have a balanced diet that focuses more on vegetables and includes some proteins and reduced carbohydrates. This changed my life,” she said.
Wanjohi is now a member of a support group for non-communicable diseases in the area that has been receiving support from Diabetes Awareness Trust, a local organisation that sensitises Kenyans on diabetes.
Since last year, DAT has been undertaking a programme in Viwandani ward that connects people living with non-communicable diseases with organic farmers in Makueni county.
The programme, according to the programmes officer in charge of nutrition Elizabeth Njoka, sees the organic farmers deliver farm produce to specific shops in Nairobi where the beneficiaries can access them.
Over 200 beneficiaries who are members of four support groups are benefiting from the project scheduled to conclude next year.
“We have also trained them to establish kitchen gardens and grow their own organic foods”.
Organic foods have been touted as a major game changer in stemming chronic illnesses that have especially ravaged many residents of the Mt Kenya region.
Njoka said Jericho area has a high number of aging people which translates to a high prevalence of chronic illnesses.
Her organisation, she noted, also creates awareness on hypertension, cancer and arthritis, and also targets lactating mothers to train them in proper feeding.
Last week, the organisation organised World Diabetes Day celebrations at Jericho dispensary where hundreds accessed free screening and treatment.
John Maina, the chairperson of a support group for people living with chronic illnesses, said he was diagnosed with hypertension last year while visiting the health facility for a minor treatment.
After meeting several other residents at the facility while seeking
drugs, Maina said they decided to form the group to support and
empower each other.
