Many residents of Mombasa are suffering from undiagnosed diabetes and high blood pressure, a situation that could lead to other complications, including death.

Yusuf Mustafa, a physician from the Dawoodi Bohra Community in Mombasa, said diabetes is a dangerous disease if left untreated for a long time and could lead to more complicated issues like heart diseases, nerve damages, vision loss, or death.

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“We have noticed quite a number of people have undiagnosed diabetes and high blood pressure, which we have advised accordingly and dispensed medication where required,” Mustafa said.

He noted that most Mombasa residents do not go for frequent checks meaning it is not easy for them to notice whenever they suffer from diabetes or high blood pressure until something happens to them that forces them to go to the hospital.

“Usually, when they are finally diagnosed, the situation is already dire,” Yusuf said.

He spoke at Old Town during a multi-specialty free medical camp organized by the Dawoodi Bohra Community in Mombasa in collaboration with the Mombasa county government.

The free medical camp saw more than 500 people benefit from Ear and Throat (ENT) services, ophthalmological services, general review, orthopedic services, dental services, diabetic services, among others.

The residents also got an opportunity to register with the Social Health Authority, with some having some Sha services given to them.

Undiagnosed diabetes often presents silently or with subtle symptoms that develop over years, such as extreme fatigue, frequent urination especially at night; unquenchable thirst, slow-healing sores, and blurred vision.

Mustafa said they also witnessed a lot of eye issues, with many cataract surgery candidates being lined up for procedures.

Dawoodi Bohra community outreach coordinator, Hamza Shura said the free medical camp was organized under the Project Rise Initiative in collaboration with the Mombasa county government.

Project Rise is a global initiative run by the Dawoodi Bohra Community for the betterment of the people and includes programs that target social welfare, food and nutrition, environment, and education.

“We have a special focus towards healthcare,” Shura said.

The Mombasa Old Town free medical camp is a continuation of the various camps conducted across the country.

In Nairobi, a surgical camp conducted in January in Nairobi saw more than 300 surgeries conducted for various ailments.

In March, another medical camp was conducted in Mariakani.

“This camp comes at a special time when His Holiness Dr Seydna Mufaddal Saifuddin, the spiritual leader of the Dawoodi Bohra Community, is in Mombasa for a 10-day visit,” Shura said.

The community’s vice chair Quresh Zakir said the community has been working with different communities and authorities to help humanity.

“Let us continue working together like this. His Holiness is very much concerned. He wants to make sure that not a single person has diseases,” Zakir said.

He noted that prevention measures are better than curative measures.

Hashim Ridha, an Old Town resident, said his eye sight has been troubling him for a long time but feared going for medical check-up because of the costs involved.

“I am happy that the spiritual leader of the Bohra community came around because I am sure it is his coming that we were able to have this free medical camp organized for us, and I have benefited," Ridha said.

He was checked and was given a free spectacle.

“There are many people here in Old Town and Mombasa who are suffering in silence because they cannot afford healthcare. May God bless these people,” Ridha said.

Rukia Ali, a community health provider based at the State House Dispensary and Old Town village elder, said many residents have registered with Sha because the services were brought closer to them.

“We ask more people to take advantage of such free medical camps to have their health checked,” she said.

She said many residents do not go for check-ups because of financial issues.

“Many residents need these services, but their financial statuses cannot allow them to go for them,” she said.

Abdul Malik said he has been suffering with poor vision for decades.

“I cannot read small letters. I cannot stay in the light for a long period. My eyes are sensitive. But I have been checked and treated and I believe I will be okay now. I have got new spectacles too,” he said.

INSTANT ANALYSIS:

Undiagnosed diabetes usually comes with high blood sugar which forces kidneys into overdrive, causing frequent urination and excessive dehydration, leading to unquenchable thirst. Cells also do not receive energy, leading to extreme tiredness regardless of sleep quality.