Doctors for Healthy Living (D4HL), in partnership with the Ministry of Health, Nairobi City County Government, and the GPO Huduma Centre, recently hosted a free wellness screening exercise to commemorate World Hypertension Day 2026.
Held under the theme “Controlling Hypertension Together,” the initiative sought to raise awareness about the growing burden of hypertension and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs), while encouraging Kenyans to embrace preventive health screening as part of their routine healthcare practices.
The outreach was conducted as part of the Doctors for Healthy Living Know Your Numbers (KYN) campaign, which advocates for regular monitoring of five critical health indicators: Body Mass Index (BMI), waist circumference, blood pressure, blood sugar, and blood cholesterol.
The campaign comes at a time when Kenya is facing a growing NCD burden. According to the Ministry of Health, non-communicable diseases account for approximately 39 per cent of all deaths in the country. Yet despite the increasing prevalence of conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, only a small proportion of Kenyans are aware of their health status.
The free screening exercise, held at the GPO Huduma Centre in Nairobi, attracted members of the public throughout the day. Steve Odote, the Huduma Centre G.P.O. Manager, noted the importance of wellness checks by stating, “It is good for the well-being of our customers, and the well-being of our staff.” He added that the free wellness screening was the true definition of Huduma Mashinani where services are taken closer to the wananchi.
246 individuals were screened during the wellness check. The findings painted a concerning picture.
While the majority of participants were working-age adults, many exhibited risk factors associated with NCDs, particularly elevated blood pressure, excess body weight, and obesity. These conditions are among the leading contributors to a host of life-threatening conditions, among them heart and kidney disease, stroke, and diabetes.
Importantly, the exercise went beyond testing. Qualified clinicians were available on-site to explain individual results, provide personalised health advice, and guide participants on practical lifestyle changes that could help improve their health outcomes. This sentiment was echoed by Anthony Mugo from Doctors for Healthy Living, who emphasised the importance of creating a culture that normalises regular screening for NCD markers.
“Having screening sessions outside the hospital environment sends the message that screening is not only done when one is feeling unwell,” he observed, adding: “Screening should become common in places where people gather, including supermarkets and even places of worship.”
For many participants, the screening offered an opportunity to access health information they may otherwise not have sought. Hypertension and other NCDs develop silently, often showing few or no symptoms until complications arise. Regular screening, therefore, remains one of the most effective ways to identify risk factors early and take corrective action before serious illness develops.
Preventive health checks empower individuals to make informed decisions about their well-being. Whether through healthier diets, increased physical activity, weight management, stress reduction, or seeking timely medical intervention, early action can significantly reduce the risk of developing chronic diseases.
The World Hypertension Day outreach served as a reminder that controlling hypertension and other NCDs requires collective action from individuals, healthcare providers, employers, and government institutions alike.
As Kenya continues to grapple with the rising burden of NCDs, initiatives such as the Know Your Numbers campaign demonstrate the critical role of public awareness and preventive screening in promoting healthier communities. Knowing your numbers today could be the first step towards preventing a life-threatening condition tomorrow.