Nancy Ngugi, Kenya
Dr Nancy Ngugi, head of diabetes and endocrine clinic, Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya. There is a global epidemic of diabetes, but this is more so in the African continent. There is more stress, the diet we eat is more refined and people exercise less. They are driving to work, as the economy is growing. Due to the chronicity of diabetes and the cost, as healthcare is not free in Kenya, people have to pay to see the doctor, get their medicines and get their tests. In lower-income communities you find that life is hard, people don’t have money to buy drugs, to go to see the doctor, to get their tests done. We really need to educate people about NCDs and chronic illnesses because that is an issue not only in Kenya but in Africa.