Governor Waiguru Unveils Initiative To Fight Lifestyle Diseases

Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru has intensified the fight against lifestyle diseases by encouraging the production and consumption of fish.

Speaking on Tuesday, August 13, Waiguru said statistics from the Ministry of Health show that Kirinyaga is ranked as having the highest prevalence of diabetes and hypertension due to consumption of starch and red meat.

The Kirinyaga county boss issued 101 fish pond liners to farmers in Mwea West noting that fish consumption will go a long way in the fight against lifestyle diseases.

“We are not only encouraging our people to engage in fish farming as a way of creating alternative livelihoods but also to increase consumption so as to improve nutritional status in the county,” Waiguru said.

She noted that the county is spending large amount of its drug supplies budget, purchasing medication for lifestyle diseases and therefore the urgent need to roll out interventions to stop the trend.

Governor Waiguru said the county aims to increase its fish production from the current 71.3 tons to 371 in 2027.

“We have 505 liners set for distribution across the county with each liner going to one household. We will thereafter issue each of the households with 1,000 fingerlings and fish feeds for the first six months,” Waiguru stated.

She pointed out the county has put up a fish aggregation center at Kiaga where farmers can sell their fish and also carry out preliminary processing and cold storage for further marketing.

At the same time, Governor Waiguru distributed water pipes and fittings for Kangai Ward Domestic Water Connections which will serve 7,500 users.

She further issued two football teams with uniforms, 45 pairs of football boots to 3 teams with each team receiving 15 pairs.