Sugitha Sureshkumar
Institute of Global Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
Kibachio Joseph Mwangi
Institute of Global Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland; Department of Non-Communicable Diseases, Ministry of Health, Nairobi, Kenya
Gladwell Gathecha
Department of Non-Communicable Diseases, Ministry of Health, Nairobi, Kenya
Kailing Marcus
Institute of Global Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
Bogomil Kohlbrenner
Institute of Global Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
David Issom
Institute of Global Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
Mohamed Rida Benissa
University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
Sigiriya Aebischer-Perone
University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
Nirit Braha
Royal Free Hospitals, National Health Service, London, United Kingdom
Egidio Candela
RCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
Kumar Gaurav Chhabra
Department of Public Health Dentistry, Nims Dental College and Hospital, Nims University, Rajasthan, India
Bava Ramachandran Desikachari
The Medical Park (HSMP), Chennai, India
Arianna Dondi
RCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
Marina Etchebehere
Faculdade Israelita de Ciencias da Saude Albert Einstein, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Andre Pascal Kengne
Non-communicable Diseases Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa
Eduardo Missoni
Center for Research on Health and Social Care Management - CERGAS, SDA Bocconi Management School, Milan, Italy
Feisul Mustapha
Disease Control Division, Ministry of Health, Putrajaya, Malaysia
Benjamin Palafox
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
Sanghamitra Pati
ICMR-Regional Medical Research Centre, Odisha, India
Priyanka Paul Madhu
Department of Public Health Dentistry, Sharad Pawar Dental College and Hospital, Wardha, India
Nasheeta Peer
Non-communicable Diseases Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa
Jennifer Quint
Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
Reza Tabrizi
Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran
Haironi Yusoff
Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Sarawak, Malaysia
Michel Oris
Institute of Global Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
David Henry Beran
Division of Tropical and Humanitarian Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
Dina Balabanova
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
Jean-François Etter
Institute of Global Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
Abstract
Introduction: over one third of total Disability-Adjusted-Life-Years lost in Kenya are due to non-communicable diseases (NCD). In response, the Government declared significant commitment towards improving NCD care. The COVID-19 pandemic increased the burden on the already overstretched health systems in Kenya. The aims of this study are to assess whether health care providers perceived NCD care to be optimal during the pandemic and explore how to improve responses to future emergencies.
Methods: this cross-sectional online survey included healthcare personnel with non-clinical roles (public health workers and policy-makers) and those delivering health care (doctors and nurses). Respondents were recruited between May and September 2021 by random sampling, completed by snowball sampling.
Results: among 236 participants (42% in clinical, 58% in non-clinical roles) there was an overall consensus between respondents on NCD care being disrupted and compromised during the pandemic in Kenya. Detracted supplies, funding, and technical resources affected the continuity of NCDs response, despite government efforts. Respondents agreed that the enhanced personnel capacity and competencies to manage COVID-19 patients were positive, but noted a lack of guidance for redirecting care for chronic diseases, and advocated for digital innovation as a solution.
Conclusion: this paper explores the perceptions of key stakeholders involved in the management of NCDs in Kenya to improve planning for future emergency responses. Gaps were identified in health system response and preparedness capacity during the pandemic including the perceived need to strengthen NCD services, with solutions offered to guide resilience efforts to protect the health system from disruption.
