Chronic pain is becoming a major public health concern in Kenya, with experts warning that a growing number of citizens are silently suffering from its far-reaching physical, emotional, and economic impacts.
According to Haleon, a global leader in consumer health, Kenya’s chronic pain therapeutics market is projected to surge from US dollars 52 million in 2022 to US dollars 89 million by 2030, indicating a rising demand for effective pain relief solutions.
To avert the crisis, Haleo has launched the Pain Management Institute (HPMI) in Nairobi in a bid to revolutionise how pain is understood, treated, and managed.
The move places Kenya at the forefront of an international effort to destigmatize pain and support patients, particularly young people and women who are disproportionately affected.
“Pain can be an isolating experience, yet no one should tackle pain alone. That’s why the Institute is committed to ensuring patients are heard, HCPs are supported, and that no one feels alone in their pain,” said Enid Moraa, Head of Expert for Sub-Saharan Africa at Haleon.
Haleon’s latest Global Pain Index, which surveyed over 18,000 people and 600 healthcare professionals across 18 countries in 2023, revealed that pain is not only a physiological condition but also a deeply emotional and social experience.
A staggering 86pc of healthcare providers said patients find it embarrassing or difficult to talk about their pain, while 79pc acknowledged that the impact of pain on daily life is routinely underestimated.
“Pain is a universal experience that cuts across culture, age, and gender. What the Index revealed was that pain disproportionately impacts marginalised populations, such as women and Gen Z’s,” noted Mark Pfister, Haleon’s General Manager for Sub-Saharan Africa.
“Patients in these groups often feel the impact more acutely due to bias, discrimination, and exclusion in society. Africa has a very youthful population, and based on the Index’s findings, these young people, who are the engine of Africa’s economic future, will not be spared from the burden of pain,” he added.
It is against this backdrop that Haleon has outlined three core areas to address the crisis by increasing patient knowledge and support, strengthening scientific research into pain, and building healthcare workers’ capacity to improve patient outcomes as the Institute aims to empower 20 million people with better pain management solutions by 2030.
