Nairobi: Kenya loses at least 100,000 people annually to cardiac failure, prompting the launch of the Mary Kerubo Foundation in Kisii to create awareness on heart disease and empower communities to live healthier lives.
According to Kenya News Agency, the Foundation was founded by Kennedy Ombaba following the death of his wife from the disease two years ago. He decried the shortage of cardiologists in the country, noting that patients from the South Nyanza region often travel long distances to Eldoret or Nairobi for treatment.
Ombaba emphasized the need for prevention of all forms of heart disease, saying that many of the 100,000 lives lost annually could be saved through early detection. He added that the Foundation's vision is to build 'a world where heart disease is preventable, and every individual has access to life awareness and care.'
He stressed that better awareness will ensure faster and more effective responses to emergencies.
Chebet Kirui, Chief Executive Officer of Very Health Care Services Australia, observed that everyone has a responsibility to look after their heart, remarking, 'Everything stops if it stops.' She called on society to openly speak about heart health, stressing that it matters.
Kirui applauded the launch of the Foundation, saying it would help foster a healthier society through increased awareness and advocacy.