Starting today, Kenyans can walk into any Goodlife Pharmacy and receive free blood pressure, blood sugar, and Body Mass Index (BMI) tests, following a nationwide rollout aimed at boosting early detection of lifestyle diseases. This is part of an expanded partnership between Old Mutual East Africa and Goodlife Pharmacy, aimed at tackling the steady in non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes and hypertension.
The initiative titled, ‘Know Your Numbers, Know Your Risk’, scraps the cost of routine health checks that typically range from Ksh 50 to 500 in most health facilities. This announcement makes preventative healthcare more accessible to millions of Kenyans and steps up efforts to combat the growing threat of non-communicable diseases such as hypertension and diabetes by empowering individuals to take proactive control of their health and wellness.
The campaign builds on the successful Pharmacy First partnership between Old Mutual and Goodlife, which over the past two years has expanded access to affordable healthcare through pharmacy-based consultations and services. This new phase introduces preventive screening as a public health essential, rather than a premium service. Previously, the collaboration introduced affordable telemedicine consultations with doctors at Goodlife outlets for acute medical needs. The partnership now evolves to offer free basic health screenings to the public at any time, without prior appointments.
“Majority of non-communicable diseases are preventable, but early detection is critical,” said Mr Ken Omami, Old Mutual General Insurance Acting General Manager Health “We are now championing a culture of holistic wellness by removing cost as a barrier to regular screening and helping people understand their health status so they can take timely action.”
> How to Control Blood Pressure Without Medication
The free screening is a response to the alarming rise in non-communicable diseases (NCDs) across Kenya. Recent health data by the World Bank shows that over 50% of hospital admissions and 55% of hospital-related deaths are caused by NCDs such as hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. The surge is largely driven by physical inactivity, unhealthy diets leading to obesity, as well as increased use of alcohol and tobacco. Many of these conditions remain silent in their early stages and often go undetected until they are severe, resulting in poor health outcomes and high treatment costs.
In addition to the free health checks, customers will receive guidance on how to create personal health records using the Old Mutual Thrive app. The app enables users to track their daily lifestyle habits, including sleep, nutrition, physical activity, and stress level. It also supports them with personalized assessments, wellness challenges, and progress tracking tools.
> Kenyan Lady Deported From the USA Leads Creation of African Crypto Coin
Linking physical check-ups with digital wellness monitoring facilitates a comprehensive wellness journey that encourages individuals to detect health risks early and adopt and sustain healthier lifestyles over time.
“Our mission is to make healthcare accessible and convenient. This program does exactly that by bringing essential preventive services closer to communities while harnessing the power of digital tools to support better health outcomes,” said Mr Justin Melvin Goodlife Pharmacies CEO.
Old Mutual and Goodlife have urged Kenyans to take advantage of the free screenings and join the growing movement toward proactive and informed health choices.
Leave a comment