Introduction:

Cardiovascular diseases CVDs are the among the main causes of morbidity and mortality in Kenya. Although hypertension is the main CVD risk factor more than half of Kenyans have never been screened for this condition and 92 are not on treatment.

Objectives:

In 2015 the World Heart Federation WHF developed a Roadmap for Hypertension which provides solutions to overcome roadblocks in the detection and treatment of hypertension

Methodology:

In 2018 WHF and the Kenya Cardiac Society KCS convened a national roundtable with participation from all local stakeholders to discuss the specific barriers to and solutions for the management of hypertension in Kenya. Building from this Roundtable we embarked on a 1-year project to better understand the local barrier for implementation of the cardiovascular diseases CVD national guidelines and to propose relevant solutions. The activities took place in Isiolo Kitui Nyandarua Kisumu and Nakuru counties

Findings:

Results:

A baseline survey conducted among 60 health providers in Nyandarua county indicated that less than half of the health facilities had access to the CVD guidelines. The main barriers for guideline implementation included absence of data tools erratic supply of medication inadequate mechanisms to track patients on hypertension care lack of knowledge and limited access to essential laboratory tests. Based on these finding we initially focused on some key solutions including training of approximately 2000 health workers from 100 health facilities and providing standardized guidelines. Moving forward we plan to support the dissemination of Ministry of Health Hypertension/Diabetes data tools incorporate follow-up and community-support components and advocate for improved availability of medication and laboratory supplies.

Conclusion:

The WHF roadmap and roundtable have been a useful strategy to convene all important CVD stakeholders identify barriers propose context relevant solutions and catalyse important changes to improve the management of people with hypertension in Kenya

Author(s):

Focus County(s):

Nyandarua County

Programme Area(s):

Non-Communicable Diseases

Research Priority Area(s):

cardiovascular

Disease Domain(s):

Cardiovascular

Publication Date: 16.Mar.2020

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