Hypertension, diabetes and arthritis have emerged as new health threats in Nyamira County as reported cases soar near those of HIV and Malaria.
Speaking on Tuesday in Nyamira during a seminar comprising of Health workers and other stakeholders, Nyamira County Chief Officer in charge of health services Douglas Bosire said the increased prevalence of the three disease was worrying and needed urgent intervention to help both the affected and the population that is at risk of encountering the problems.
“Lifestyle diseases are now emerging as new threats to the County's population and I promise to take up the challenge by strengthening health campaigns and sensitisation programs on ways of managing or preventing the condition,” said Bosire.
Without releasing the actual figures indicating the prevalence, Bosire said there was reason to worry owing to the number of new cases discovered in the recent past especially during the free medical camps conducted in the county.
"What we have already witnessed is enough to tell that not all is well with our people because it is very shocking that nearly every home in this region has a person with a condition attached with any of the lifestyle ailments," added Bosire.
According to the officials who attend to patients during free medical camps in Nyamira county, three out of every ten people who visit the camps were having either elevated blood pressure or were newly diagnosed with the condition, something they noted was of great concern in the area.
Also Cases of arthritis were observed to be more rampant with more women than men being diagnosed of the disease.