Kitui Marks World Diabetes Day with County-Wide Sensitisation Drive

The county’s commemoration began with a nature walk through the streets of Kitui Town, followed by a press briefing led by the Chief Officer for Public Health and Sanitation, Lynn Kitwan.

Speaking to the media, Kitwan said this year’s observance aims to highlight how workplaces can better support employees living with diabetes.She noted that several lifestyle-related factors contribute to the rising cases of diabetes, including poor eating habits, physical inactivity, and obesity.

 These, she said, not only increase the risk of diabetes but can also lead to mental health challenges that may affect productivity or even result in loss of life. The county, together with health stakeholders, is therefore prioritising awareness and prevention to curb the spread of the disease.

According to Kitwan, diabetes—though non-communicable—is manageable, and those affected can live healthy, fulfilling lives if they adhere to medical advice. She urged residents not to isolate themselves after diagnosis but instead to share their experiences with friends and family to avoid mental strain. “It’s not a life sentence. We can manage it while carrying out our daily duties,” she said.

The County Government of Kitui has intensified efforts to educate workers and Community Health Promoters (CHPs) at the village level to equip them with knowledge aimed at promoting prevention. Kitwan explained that prevention remains the most effective approach in handling non-communicable diseases such as diabetes. “As a county government, we are working towards preventing diabetes because non-communicable diseases are best handled through early prevention. We are sensitising and training community health promoters and healthcare workers to help residents in testing, treatment, and management,” she said.

The Ministry of Health in Kitui has also been actively reaching out to communities, urging residents to avoid lifestyles that increase their risk of developing diabetes. Kitwan noted that the highest number of reported cases in the county come from Kitui Central and Kitui West. She encouraged all residents to take advantage of the county’s free screening services available throughout the month. “For a long time, our focus was largely on communicable diseases like HIV and TB. This allowed diabetes to creep in and become common among our people. I urge all residents to come forward for screening to avoid last-minute complications,” she added.

Kitwan further highlighted that pregnant women and expectant mothers face an elevated risk of diabetes, particularly gestational diabetes, which poses dangers to both the mother and the unborn child. She advised regular hospital visits for screening and monitoring. “We have two main types of diabetes: Type 1, which mostly affects children at a young age, and Type 2, which is largely linked to lifestyle factors and is controllable. The third, gestational diabetes, affects pregnant women and is extremely risky. I encourage all pregnant mothers to visit health facilities regularly,” she concluded.