Briefing Paper

Innovative Approaches to Strengthen Integrated Non-communicable Disease Management in Kenya’s Public Health System

Kenya is experiencing an epidemiological transition in its Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) burden. NCDs are a major public health concern and contribute to over 50% of hospital admissions and 40% of the mortality, slowing down economic progress in Kenya. If the present trend continues, the health systems in low-and middle-income countries will be unable to mitigate the disease burden. The NCDs burden is fuelled by behavioural and lifestyles factors hence the epidemiological models and projections may not be nationally representative or accurate. There is need to examine the magnitude of NCDs to inform the design and implementation of interventions by the Ministry of Health (MoH), government sectors and county governments. The basis of NCDs prevention is the identification of the major common risk factors, barriers and their prevention and control. For effective management of NCDs, the plan of care must involve the entire NCD patient’s journey from prevention, to health education, advocacy and care, to address specific barriers for effective control.