St. Elizabeth in the Community: 935 People Screened in Five Communities

Early detection and treatment of disease, disease prevention and health promotion are critical in public health improvement. St. Elizabeth Hospital places premium importance on public health and so has an ongoing community interaction as a form of corporate social responsibility.

Aimed at bringing health to the doorstep of the people, St. Elizabeth-in-the-Community is a platform for health care providers to identify sociocultural practices that influence the health of the populace and institute appropriate interventions. It operates through radio health education, school health, and education and screening at market places, workplaces and places of worship. Through St. Elizabeth-in-the-Community, non-communicable diseases, particularly hypertension and diabetes, among rural community members are detected and treatment initiated early for improved outcomes.

What we found in 2022

In the first half of 2022, St. Elizabeth-in-the-Community activities included health screening exercises held in five communities. In all, 935 persons, including inmates of the Kenyasi Prisons, were screened for various health conditions, measuring among others body weight, height, BMI, blood glucose and blood pressure.

• 30% had elevated blood pressure and a further 24% had high blood pressure.
• 13% were obese, and a further 36% were either under- or overweight.
• 11.2% of participants recorded high blood glucose levels.

First published in the St. Elizabeth Catholic Hospital Newsletter, Maiden Edition (2022).