KDF Expands Humanitarian Role Through Health Campaign & Medical Outreach
IMAGES/KDF
Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) have reaffirmed their commitment to public health through a diabetes awareness campaign in Nairobi and humanitarian medical outreach in Somalia.
On Saturday July 11, hundreds of Kenyans, including Kenya Defence Forces personnel, healthcare workers, parents, children and fitness enthusiasts, converged at Nairobi’s Carnivore Grounds for the annual Diabetes Walk aimed at raising awareness about the prevention, early detection and management of diabetes.
The event brought together the Kenya Diabetes Management and Information Centre (DMI), KDF, government agencies and other partners to encourage healthier lifestyles amid rising cases of diabetes in the country.
According to a statement by KDF, health experts estimate that more than 813,300 Kenyan adults are living with diabetes, with thousands more remaining undiagnosed, making awareness campaigns and routine screening increasingly critical in tackling the disease.
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The 12-kilometre walk also served as a show of solidarity with people living with diabetes, especially children who face the lifelong challenge of managing the condition.
Organisers said the campaign sought to promote early diagnosis, improve access to care and remind the public that children living with diabetes can lead healthy and fulfilling lives when provided with the necessary support.
KDF Director of Medical Services Major General Francis Kuria led the military contingent during the event and called for greater collaboration in promoting preventive healthcare.
He commended the organisers and partner institutions for bringing together different sectors in support of public health, saying protecting the health of the population is a shared responsibility.
“Healthy communities contribute to a stronger and safer nation,” Major General Kuria said.
He urged Kenyans to embrace regular physical activity, routine medical check-ups and healthy lifestyles as practical measures to reduce the risk of diabetes and other non-communicable diseases.
Participants also benefited from free diabetes screening, blood sugar testing, medical consultations and health education sessions, with many taking advantage of the opportunity to know their health status and receive professional medical advice on preventing and managing the disease.
Preventive healthcare takes centre stage
The event underscored the growing importance of preventive healthcare in addressing the increasing burden of non-communicable diseases in Kenya. Health professionals noted that regular exercise, healthy eating habits, routine medical check-ups and early diagnosis remain among the most effective ways of preventing complications associated with diabetes.
Meanwhile, Kenya Defence Forces medical personnel serving under the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) successfully conducted hernia surgeries on patients at Dhobley Level II Hospital, offering specialised treatment to vulnerable communities with limited access to advanced healthcare.
According to the military, the patients had been suffering from hernia-related complications before undergoing the life-changing procedures.
The surgeries were led by senior KDF medical officers, assisted by a team of skilled medical professionals who removed the protruding tissue and reinforced weakened areas using surgical mesh to improve recovery and reduce the likelihood of recurrence.
The intervention brought renewed hope to patients who would otherwise have struggled to access specialised surgical services due to limited healthcare infrastructure in the region.
Restoring hope beyond peace support operations
The humanitarian intervention reflects KDF’s broader contribution under the African Union mission, where medical teams continue to complement peace support operations by delivering essential healthcare services to local communities.
Beyond their primary security responsibilities, KDF medical personnel have continued to strengthen local healthcare systems through specialised treatment, medical outreach and support to health facilities operating in resource-constrained environments.
The military said the latest intervention demonstrates its commitment to preserving life and restoring dignity among vulnerable populations.
“Beyond their primary role of promoting security and stability, the KDF medical team continues to make significant humanitarian contributions by providing life-changing medical care, strengthening local healthcare support systems and restoring hope to vulnerable patients and families in a setting often marked by hardship and limited access to specialized treatment,” part of the press statement reads.
The statement added that the intervention reflects the wider objectives of the AUSSOM mission.
“This intervention reflects the broader commitment of the AUSSOM mission not only to promote peace and stability, but also to safeguard human dignity, improve well-being and bring hope to the communities it serves,” it adds
The two initiatives, undertaken in Kenya and Somalia, illustrate the expanding role of the Kenya Defence Forces in promoting public health through preventive campaigns and humanitarian medical assistance, demonstrating that military service increasingly extends beyond security to improving the well-being of communities at home and across the region.
