As published on educationnews.co.ke on November 8th 2022
Teachers’ Medical Scheme service provider Minet Kenya has urged teachers who are struggling with Chronic Diseases to reach out to them and get enrolled in the Chronic Diseases Management (CDM) Scheme.
According to Minet, this will enable teachers to benefit from full monthly dosage of medication, telemedicine, shared health materials on managing different chronic conditions and get access to chronic diseases health talks Webinars.
This comes after the service provider recently released a report that showed that 90 percent of the CDM clients who are teachers are between 36 and 70 years and that 63 percent of the CDM patient (teachers) suffer from Hypertension while 22 percent of those enrolled in the scheme are managing diabetes.
“Your health is one of the most important things in life and as they say, you only have yourself to protect. However hard we strive to remain healthy; we never know when we become sick. Sometimes the sickness is mild and sometimes chronic. That is the way of life”, Minet’s Head of Marketing and Corporate Affairs Carolyne Nekesa told Education News.
A chronic condition is defined as a human health condition or disease that is persistent or otherwise long-lasting in its effects or a disease that comes with time. In most cases, an illness that lasts more than three months is deemed chronic.
According to Minet, the conditions managed under Chronic Disease Management include Hypertension, Diabetes, Asthma, Hypertension/Diabetes, Cancer, Convulsive Disorders, Arthritis, Thyroid Diseases, Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, Bipolar Disorder, Mental Disorders, HIV, Sickle Cell, Epilepsy, Renal Disorders (Renal Failure), and Gout Arthritis.
“Many people with chronic illnesses don’t know how to manage them because most diseases often have similar symptoms, sometimes puzzling medical practitioners. However, chronic diseases can be managed by reducing the risk factors that precede the conditions. Working with a medic or specialist in managing a chronic illness is always advised”, added Nekesa.
A 2021 World Health Organization (WHO) report estimates that 41 million people die annually as a result of non-communicable diseases, which is equivalent to 71 percent of all deaths.
Additionally, more than 15 million people die between the ages of 30 and 69 years; 88 percent of these “premature” deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries. In Kenya, non-communicable diseases account for 39 percent of deaths annually according to Ministry of Health reports.
“Teachers just like everyone else, battle various chronic diseases. Luckily for them, the Teachers Medical Scheme managed by Minet, has them covered.
The scheme supports them in managing chronic diseases such as Hypertension, Diabetes, Cancer, Asthma, Arthritis, Epilepsy, Peptic Ulcers, HIV, Mental Disorders, and Sickle Cell through a comprehensive chronic benefit and access to Chronic Disease Management Program” she added.
Minet has advised teachers to quit smoking, get enough physical activity, reduce alcohol intake, eat a balanced diet, maintain a healthy weight, and blood pressure, and checking their cholesterol levels as preventative measures to reduce the risks for chronic diseases.
The teachers’ medical scheme covers more than one million people including over 300,000 registered teachers in various job groups and over 700,000 registered dependants and is provided by Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and managed by Minet. It is one of the largest insurance contracts in the history of medical insurance in the country.
