Kenyans have been urged to embrace regular health screening and early medical check-ups as part of efforts to curb the rising burden of non-communicable diseases, including diabetes and thyroid disorders.
The call was made as Kenya marked World Diabetes Day through a three-day free health screening programme at Lions SightFirst Eye Hospital in Loresho, Nairobi.
The initiative, which concluded on Saturday, November 14, was held alongside the 10th Annual Lions Diabetes Symposium and offered members of the public free tests for diabetes and thyroid-related conditions.
The screening was conducted under Merck’s ThyroAfrica programme, featuring Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH) tests to detect possible thyroid disorders and HbA1c tests to assess average blood sugar levels and support diabetes diagnosis and management.
The pilot programme, which brought together diabetes and thyroid screening, targeted approximately 500 people in Nairobi.
Speaking during the exercise, Dr. Rilwan Adan, a Physician and Diabetologist and Head of the Lions Diabetes Care Centre, emphasised the need for integrated screening, noting that diabetes and thyroid disorders can occur simultaneously and should not be treated in isolation.
Dr. Adan further warned that despite the increasing cases of diabetes and thyroid disorders, many people continue to live with the conditions unknowingly due to limited routine medical check-ups and low health-seeking behaviour.
She urged Kenyans to prioritise regular health examinations, saying early detection remains critical in preventing complications and improving treatment.
Merck General Manager for Sub-Saharan Africa John Ndeti urged Kenyans to embrace regular medical screening, saying early detection remains critical in managing non-communicable diseases.
Ndeti revealed that an earlier screening exercise at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Mwea reached 147 people, including 46 screened for thyroid disorders and 101 for diabetes.
The Nairobi initiative, which targeted approximately 500 people, coincided with the 10th Annual Lions Diabetes Symposium and forms part of Merck’s broader ThyroAfrica programme launched in April 2025 to improve awareness, strengthen diagnostic capacity and expand access to thyroid care across Africa.
The programme also encourages members of the public to use a free two-minute ThyroidAware symptom checker to assess their risk and seek medical attention where necessary.
