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Players in the health sector have been urged to amplify the awareness campaign about Thyroid disease in an effort to educate the public about the prevalence and risks associated with thyroid disorders, which often go undiagnosed due to their subtle symptoms.
Dr. Roselyn Ngugi, Chair of the Kenya Diabetes Study Group, spoke at the launch of the Thyroid Africa awareness campaign in Nairobi. She announced that the campaign will provide free screening services across counties to facilitate early detection and management of thyroid conditions.
“Thyroid disease should be included in the category of non-communicable diseases for it to receive appropriate attention from the government,” she said.
Thyroid disease encompasses a range of conditions that affect the function of the thyroid gland—a small, butterfly-shaped gland located at the front of the neck, just below the Adam’s apple. Symptoms include fatigue, weight gain, cold intolerance, depression, slow heart rate, constipation, dry skin, and memory problems.
“While there’s scare data on the disease burden there’s is need for government, researchers and health practitioners collaboration to come up with the prevalence of the disease among the population,” stated Dr. Ngugi.
According to global health statistics, thyroid disorders affect up to 10 percent of the population, with women being disproportionately affected. In Kenya, limited public knowledge, stigma, and a lack of diagnostic facilities have contributed to underreporting and misdiagnosis.
The Kenya Diabetes Study Group, Merck Pharmaceuticals, and Thyroid Africa have partnered to launch a nationwide campaign aimed at raising awareness about thyroid diseases and providing free screening services across all counties in Kenya.
Joan, a patient diagnosed with the disease, has managed her condition through medication. Stakeholders believe that these awareness campaigns will help inform future policy and healthcare planning.
“The government should invest in modern day laboratories to test the disease since private labs charges are expensive,” Joan stated.
