Kenya Marks World Diabetes Day with Free ThyroAfrica Screenings in Nairobi

Kenya marked World Diabetes Day with a three-day free health screening initiative in Nairobi, offering members of the public an opportunity to undergo diabetes and thyroid tests. The programme, held at Lions SightFirst Eye Hospital in Loresho, concluded alongside the 10th Annual Lions Diabetes Symposium. It was conducted through Merck’s ThyroAfrica programme.

The initiative offered Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH) tests to identify potential thyroid disorders and Glycated Haemoglobin (HbA1c) tests to assess blood sugar levels and support diabetes diagnosis and management. An estimated 500 people were expected to benefit from the free screenings. Health experts urged Kenyans to embrace regular screening to prevent complications and improve treatment outcomes.

Dr. Rilwan Adan, Physician and Diabetologist and Head of the Lions Diabetes Care Centre, emphasised the importance of screening for both conditions, noting that diabetes and thyroid disorders can coexist. She highlighted that integrated screening and community-based healthcare services are essential in identifying undiagnosed cases and ensuring patients receive timely medical attention.

Merck General Manager for Sub-Saharan Africa, John Ndeti, said the initiative forms part of the company’s year-round commitment to raising awareness, expanding access to screening and strengthening healthcare workers’ capacity to address non-communicable diseases. He revealed that an earlier screening exercise at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Mwea reached 147 people, including 46 screened for thyroid disorders and 101 for diabetes.

Thyroid disorders remain under-recognised across many African countries, with limited diagnostic facilities, inadequate awareness and poor access to testing contributing to delayed diagnosis and treatment. To address these challenges, Merck launched ThyroAfrica in April 2025 in partnership with hospitals, laboratories, researchers and policymakers.

The ThyroAfrica initiative focuses on improving public awareness, strengthening healthcare workers’ diagnostic capacity and expanding access to thyroid testing and treatment. Members of the public are also encouraged to use the free two-minute ThyroidAware Symptom Checker to assess their risk of thyroid disorders and seek medical advice where necessary.

The free screenings were part of the commemoration of World Diabetes Day 2026, which took place on November 14. The event aimed to promote early detection and better management of non-communicable diseases in Kenya.

Key points

• The initiative offered free HbA1c and TSH tests to promote early detection of diabetes and thyroid disorders.
• Merck’s ThyroAfrica programme aims to improve public awareness and expand access to thyroid testing and treatment.
• The initiative is part of Merck’s year-round commitment to addressing non-communicable diseases in Sub-Saharan Africa.