Faith, the fifth of six children, suffers from congenital heart disease (hole in the heart) that forms during the development of the foetus. Mutai, a casual labourer, has since turned to traditional herbs prescribed by a herbalist for alternative treatment. I have sold all my livestock, leaving me in abject poverty and unable to take my daughter to the hospital,” laments Mutai, who so far owes the herbalist Sh2,000 and a sheep. Prof Jowi warns that treating heart disease is expensive due to the medical supplies and human resources involved. Type 1 diabetes, he says, requires daily administration of insulin to regulate glucose levels for survival, while type 2 diabetes is managed through proper diet and exercise.

Source: Standard Digital August 23, 2020 05:01 UTC