The government has been urged to introduce free insulin vaccination to children in order to prevent them from getting diabetes.
Speaking to this writer during the Safaricom Diabetes Walk in Mombasa on Saturday, Kenya Diabetes Management Information Center Executive Director Eva Muchemi, said that they will initiate talks with the government on how to implement the same.
Muchemi said many kids in Kenya miss classes due to diabetes, a move that indicates the need to put in place the measures, in a bid to assist thousands of kids in the country.
“Many children are disadvantaged. We appeal to the government to give free insulin vaccination to children so that we can create opportunities for them to compete with other kids,” she said.
Muchemi also said that they are training teachers as well as parents on how to manage diabetes among children.
She added that they will establish special camps during holidays, where they will invite 50 children and their parents, to sensitise them on the disease.
“The money which we collect from these walks is used to support these programmes, and we have decided to also involve parents, as they play an important role in ensuring the success of the projects,” she added.
Safaricom Diabetes Walk Mombasa edition was held at the Butterfly Pavilion Bamburi on Saturday, under the theme “Step Out for children with Diabetes”.