NOC-K president Shadrack Maluki has called for stronger athlete health systems, saying the country cannot achieve sustainable sporting success without prioritising the wellbeing of its athletes.
“There can be no sustainable sporting excellence without healthy athletes,” Maluki said while opening the three-day NOC-K Health Symposium for coaches and health professionals in Nairobi.
Maluki said athlete health must remain at the centre of Kenya’s sporting ambitions as the country seeks to strengthen its position on the international stage.
The symposium has brought together coaches, athletes, medical professionals, sports federations, government agencies, regulators, emergency services, insurers and other stakeholders to examine ways of improving athlete healthcare.
Participants are discussing injury and illness prevention, emergency preparedness and response, rehabilitation and safe return to sport, mental health, sports nutrition, safeguarding, anti-doping, medication and supplement safety, and athlete health monitoring.
Maluki said athlete care must be approached holistically, noting that recovering athletes may require more than physical treatment, including psychological support, nutritional guidance, medical monitoring and a properly managed return-to-competition programme.
He urged sports federations to develop clear systems covering medical screening, emergency response, referral pathways, safeguarding, anti-doping procedures and health monitoring.
Coaches, Maluki said, have an important role in identifying physical and psychological concerns early because they are often among the first people to notice changes in an athlete’s wellbeing.
Medical professionals were also urged to uphold ethical and evidence-based practice, while athletes were encouraged to take an active role in protecting their health and seeking medical or psychological support when necessary.
The symposium is expected to identify gaps in Kenya’s existing athlete health systems, share best practices and develop practical standards that can be implemented across sports.
“Let this symposium mark another step toward a Kenya where athlete health is not an afterthought, but a fundamental pillar of sporting excellence,” Maluki said.
