NAIROBI (Xinhua) --
The proportion of Kenya’s senior citizens
affected by non-communicable diseases (NCDs) has increased
rapidly, says a report launched by international charity HelpAge
International on Friday.According to the Global
AgeWatch Insights 2008 report compiled by HelpAge International
and American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), Kenya is
among African countries with a heavy burden of cancers, heart
ailments and diabetes among the elderly.
Erastus Maina, country program coordinator of HelpAge
International said the new report should motivate policymakers
to design robust interventions aimed at helping older persons
manage non-communicable diseases.
"We require health policies that are responsive to the needs
of the elderly people as they grapple with a host of lifestyle
diseases. The health systems should be reformed to boost
response to shifting disease patterns affecting the aging
demographic," said Maina.
Kenya was among three African countries including Tanzania
and Zimbabwe that were profiled in the Global AgeWatch Insight
2018 report that shed light on the link between aging and a
surge in lifestyle diseases.
The report also analyzed older people’s right to health in
the context of the current demographic, epidemiological and
health systems transition across Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe,
Middle East, Latin America and the Caribbean.
Statistics from ministry of labor and social protection
indicate that Kenya’s aging population is growing at an annual
rate of 3.5 percent, thus exerting pressure on public coffers
required to meet healthcare needs of this vulnerable
demographic.
