Kisumu’s Wellness Push: A Shift From Cure to Prevention

Kenya, 30 October 2025 - Kisumu County has taken a bold step toward reshaping its healthcare model with the launch of the Kisumu County Wellness Screening Protocol, a comprehensive initiative aimed at promoting preventive care and early detection of chronic illnesses.

Speaking at Ojolla Sub-County Hospital during the launch and a concurrent Mental Health Dialogue, Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o described the new programme as a cornerstone in the county’s transition from reactive treatment to proactive wellness.

“This protocol is not just a medical framework — it’s a social and economic imperative,” Prof Nyong’o said.

“Early detection of hypertension, diabetes, and cancers saves lives, prevents suffering, and shields families from the catastrophic financial burdens of advanced disease.”

At the heart of the new initiative is a shift in focus — from curing illnesses to preventing them.

The Governor emphasised the need to normalise regular screening for lifestyle and non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and cancer as part of everyday healthcare practice.

He noted that the Wellness Screening Protocol creates a unified framework for health workers across all levels — from community units to the county’s referral hospital — to operate under a shared philosophy of prevention.

“From our Level 1 community units to our Level 5 specialist hospitals, we must all speak the same language of prevention,” he said.

Alongside physical health, the county is placing mental health at the centre of its wellness agenda.

Prof Nyong’o underscored the importance of addressing mental health openly and building stronger support systems for those in need.

“There is no health without mental health,” he said.

“We are calling for open conversations and stronger support for those struggling in silence.”

The wellness initiative aligns with Kisumu’s broader pursuit of Universal Health Coverage (UHC), a key priority for the Nyong’o administration.

According to the Governor, achieving UHC goes beyond providing health insurance — it requires robust investment in Primary Health Care (PHC) systems that keep communities healthy before illness strikes.

“UHC is not just about insuring people for when they fall sick. It’s about investing in primary care, strengthening facilities, supporting health workers, and creating an enabling environment for strong partnerships,” he said.

He lauded the initiative as both a health and development strategy, linking wellness directly to productivity and innovation.

“A healthy person can work, a healthy child can learn, and a healthy mind can innovate,” he noted.

“A stable, healthy community is a progressive and forward-looking community.”

The launch of the Wellness Programme signals Kisumu’s commitment to embedding health screening and preventive care into the fabric of its healthcare system — making wellness checks as routine as childhood immunisations.

If successful, the county’s model could offer a blueprint for other devolved units seeking to reduce the growing burden of non-communicable diseases through early intervention and sustained community engagement.