Patients with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Homa Bay County are urging the local government to allocate a specific budget for purchasing necessary medications in the upcoming 2025/2026 financial year. These NCDs, including hypertension, diabetes, asthma, sickle cell, and epilepsy, are significant contributors to mortality in the region.

Currently, patients face substantial financial burdens due to the unavailability of NCD drugs in local health facilities. Many rely on medications provided by Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), which offers free drugs at two health centers in Homa Bay Sub-County: Nyalkinyi and Marindi. However, residents unable to afford transportation to these centers must purchase drugs out-of-pocket, leading to considerable expenses.

Salome Akinyi, a hypertension patient from Mbita Sub-County, reports spending approximately Sh1,000 on transportation to access medication from Marindi. She emphasizes that the availability of drugs at closer health centers would alleviate these financial strains. Other patients echoed similar sentiments during a hypertension awareness event in Rodi Kopany Township, advocating for the county government to include funds for NCD drugs in the upcoming budget.

Tom Mboya, another patient, believes that dedicating specific funds in the 2025/2026 budget would provide a permanent solution to the drug shortage issue. He cautioned that the temporary presence of MSF means the county government should develop sustainable strategies for supplying NCD drugs to local health facilities to avoid a potential health crisis when MSF eventually departs.

Anne Brukhanoff, MSF Project Co-ordinator in Homa Bay County, stressed the necessity for collaboration between the county health department, the Ministry of Health, and other stakeholders to ensure a sustainable supply of hypertension medication in public health facilities. MSF offers training for health workers in hypertension management, medication, and patient education, but their efforts alone are insufficient.

Caroline Aloo, the NCDs Co-ordinator in Homa Bay County, and Kennedy Omollo, the Co-ordinator of Health Promotion, encouraged residents to undergo early screening for hypertension. They highlighted that early detection and proper management can significantly improve the quality of life for individuals with hypertension.