This archive report was first published on 22 June 2020.
On June 22, 2020, Boehringer Ingelheim, a German pharmaceutical multinational, announced the results of its access to healthcare programs in Nairobi and Western Kenya as part of its 'In Reach Africa' initiative.
The programs, Kuza Afya and Tiba Yako, aimed to improve healthcare access and awareness in low-income areas and grassroots communities.
Kuza Afya, a diabetes and hypertension care program, was unveiled in January 2019 and rolled out in Bungoma County, Western Kenya until December 2019. During this period, over 70,000 community members were screened for hypertension and 40,000 for diabetes.
Simon Manyara, Product Manager at Boehringer Ingelheim Sub-Saharan Africa, said, 'Hypertension and diabetes prevalence rates are still very high in Nairobi and Western Kenya regions. However, through Kuza Afya and Tiba Yako we were able to identify the key challenges on the ground being lack of awareness on the diseases and access to healthcare services especially in the grassroots and low income areas.'
The programs helped bridge this gap by equipping more clinics with basic diagnostic kits and linking patients with the right management to avoid complications occasioned by late diagnosis.
Through these efforts, over 5,000 new patients in the region are now accessing care for hypertension and diabetes routinely.
Tiba Yako, a digital service model for diabetes and hypertension care, was rolled out last year by Boehringer Ingelheim in partnership with Pharm Access, mainly targeting people living in slum areas and other informal settlements in Nairobi.
The program enrolled over 1,435 patients in Nairobi in one year and continues to access care for hypertension and diabetes routinely.
During the roll out, 7 clinics were selected to support care for the patients diagnosed with hypertension or diabetes. The health facilities were also equipped with basic diagnostic kits and care protocols and offered mentorship for quality care.
