Description
Strengthening Community Engagement for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) Prevention and Control in Meru County, Kenya
Background:
Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, hypertension, cancers, and cardiovascular diseases remain a growing burden in Kenya. In Meru County, delayed diagnosis, low awareness, and lifestyle risk factors worsen outcomes. To address these gaps, the Mwanga Access Program was launched through a partnership involving Roche, the Non-Communicable Diseases Alliance Kenya (NCDAK), Medtronic Labs, and the County Government of Meru. The program prioritized community engagement and promotion to improve prevention, screening, and linkage to care.
Objective:
To describe community engagement strategies applied in the Mwanga Access Program and their impact on awareness, screening, and referrals.
Methods:
Between September 2022 and September 2024, the program was implemented in four sub-counties (Imenti South, Imenti Central, Buuri East, Buuri West) linked to five health facilities. Community Health Promoters (CHPs) were trained on NCD prevention and provided with IEC materials. They conducted sensitization, facility desk services, and outreach screenings for diabetes and hypertension, referring positive cases to facilities.Hub-Spoke Model was employed.
Results:
The program screened 36,153 individuals, generating 13,562 referrals. Of these, only 2,849 referrals were completed, leading to 2,231 enrollments and 1,524 confirmed NCD cases. This highlights a major gap in linkage to care despite high screening uptake. CHPs reported improved capacity for education and follow-up, while digital tools streamlined referrals and strengthened community–facility linkages.
Conclusion:
The Mwanga Access Program demonstrates that community-driven strategies, supported by partnerships and digital innovations, can strengthen NCD prevention and control. However, referral completion remains a critical challenge.
Recommendations:
- Strengthening referral follow-up and retention mechanisms.
- Leveraging CHPs and digital tools for patient navigation and reminders.
- Addressing barriers to care (transport, cost, awareness) through county support.
- Embedding community-led NCD interventions into county budgets and national policy.
| Country | Kenya |
|---|---|
| Organization | Government of Kenya |
| Position | CNCDC |
| Received a Grant? | No |
