By Victoria Musimbi …
As the world prepares to mark World Thyroid Day on May 25, Kenya has taken a significant step toward addressing a silent yet pervasive health challenge: thyroid disorders. With an estimated 12 million people affected across Africa, these conditions, including hypothyroidism and abnormal Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH) levels, often go undiagnosed and misunderstood. Left untreated, they can lead to severe health complications, including infertility, depression, and heart failure.
In response, global pharmaceutical company Merck has launched ThyroAfrica, a bold disease awareness campaign aimed at improving the diagnosis, treatment, and management of thyroid disorders across the continent. Officially launched on April 24 in Nairobi, the campaign is built on three pillars: Patient Awareness, Health Care Provider (HCP) Diagnosis Excellence, and Strategic Partnerships.
“Thyroid diseases affect approximately 4% of the population, and many live with it unknowingly, sometimes from childhood,” said John Ndeti, General Manager for Merck in Sub-Saharan Africa. “We are committed to changing that narrative through awareness, early intervention, and improved access to care.”
A Personal Battle Turned Advocacy
For Joan Amimo, a 29-year-old call agent and thyroid patient advocate in Nairobi, the campaign represents hope and validation. Her journey with hyperthyroidism began in 2019 with a routine medical checkup in Nanyuki, where she had just started her first job.
A Thyroid Function Test revealed that her Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) levels were at 8, which is considered high, but she initially dismissed the result. Gradually, her body began to change: persistent fatigue, memory lapses, mood swings, and unexplained hair stagnation.
“I told myself it was just the stress of adjusting to a new town,” she recalls. “But my symptoms kept worsening, and my TSH levels eventually rose to 10.”
The absence of endocrinologists in Nanyuki made consistent care difficult, forcing Joan to rely on general practitioners and travel frequently to Nairobi, an exhausting and expensive routine. It wasn’t until 2022 that she fully accepted her diagnosis and committed to consistent medication and dietary adjustments. She also began addressing her mental health, which had been affected by the illness.
“I realized managing hyperthyroidism requires a holistic approach. It’s not just about medication you need nutritionists, mental health professionals, and a support system.”
Today, Joan is a proud member of TIDA (Thyroid Disease Awareness Kenya), a patient and caregiver network advocating for affordable and accessible thyroid care. Together, they support one another and push for policy changes to make diagnostic services more inclusive.
Digital Tools and Discounted Care
At the core of the ThyroAfrica campaign is innovation. Merck has partnered with Cerba Lancet Kenya to provide patients with 25% discounted thyroid tests, making diagnosis more accessible. The campaign also introduced the T-Lab App, a digital tool that allows individuals to screen symptoms online. If flagged, users are encouraged to visit a physician, who may then recommend lab tests and initiate appropriate treatment.
“The affordability of these services is key,” said Brenda Maraga, a medical representative with DP World Merck and a T-Lab Champion. “This is about giving patients a chance at early diagnosis and long-term management.”
The initiative also prioritizes vulnerable groups such as pregnant women and newborns, for whom early detection can be life-saving.
Empowering Health Workers
One major gap ThyroAfrica seeks to bridge is clinical knowledge among frontline health workers. In many parts of Kenya and sub-Saharan Africa, general practitioners lack the tools and training to diagnose thyroid disorders accurately. ThyroAfrica addresses this by providing webinars, educational resources, and digital diagnostic support via the T-Lab app.
“This campaign fills a critical knowledge gap,” noted Dr. Rosslyn Ngugi, an endocrinologist and chair of the Kenya Diabetes Study Group. “It equips healthcare workers with the skills to detect and treat thyroid conditions more effectively.”
Project Vezeeta: Linking Patients to Care
A standout feature of the campaign is Project Vezeeta, which connects patients to nearby healthcare providers. This innovative system works hand in hand with subsidized testing to lower the economic burden of care. It also enhances the patient journey by simplifying referral pathways and encouraging early medical intervention.
Groundbreaking Data and Policy Advocacy
A 2022 study conducted at Kenyatta National Hospital by Dr. Beryl O. Muyodi, Prof. E. Amayo, Joshi, and Dr. Kagima found thyroid disorders in 36.8% of heart failure patients. Despite such alarming statistics, Kenya still lacks comprehensive baseline data and clear policy guidelines on thyroid health.
“ThyroAfrica aims to fill this gap by raising awareness and pushing for national data collection and better health policies,” said Joshua Mugweru, Merck’s Business Unit Head for Sub-Saharan Africa at DP World.
A Blueprint for Broader Change
More than just a thyroid awareness campaign, ThyroAfrica offers a replicable model for managing non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in resource-limited settings. By embedding thyroid care into broader health systems and prioritizing partnerships between private and public sectors, the initiative promises long-term impact.
“This is just the beginning,” said Dr. Ngugi. “We envision a future where thyroid health is not an afterthought, but a key part of our healthcare agenda.”
With Merck’s backing and the support of Kenyan medical experts and policymakers, ThyroAfrica holds the potential to not only improve individual outcomes but also strengthen the continent’s health systems in the long run.
For patients like Joan Amimo, the campaign is already making a difference.
“To anyone living with thyroid disease you’re not alone,” she says. “And to healthcare providers we need you to walk this journey with us. With your empathy and expertise, we can change lives.”
