Many Kenyans may die young because of four big diseases. A new report from the World Health Organization (WHO) says heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer are killing more people around the world, and Kenya is not safe either.
The report, called the 2025 World Statistics Report, shows that these diseases are now the main killers of people under 70 years old.
This is happening because the population is getting older and more people are being born. WHO also says the world is failing to stop early deaths from these sicknesses.
“The world is off track to cut deaths from these diseases by one-third by 2030,” the report warned.
The report also linked the rise in deaths to the effects of COVID-19. Between 2019 and 2021, global life expectancy dropped by 1.8 years.
This is the biggest fall in many years. Mental problems like depression and anxiety also increased after the pandemic, making people less healthy.
Jane Atieno, a nurse in Kisumu, said, “We see more young people coming in with high blood pressure and diabetes. Many don’t even know they are sick.”
WHO also warned that poor countries like Kenya could suffer more because of cuts in international aid. This makes it hard to give proper care to people.
But there is still hope. WHO says more than 1.4 billion people worldwide are now living healthier lives. This progress is because of less smoking, cleaner air, and better water and sanitation.
Peter Mwangi, a father from Nyeri, said, “If we get good hospitals and information, we can fight these diseases. We just need support.”
WHO says the fight is not over, but progress is possible if the world works together.
By Kenyans