October 25-26, 2023, Centre for Health Solutions – Kenya (CHS) through its USAID funded Tuberculosis Accelerated Response and Care II (USAID TB ARC II) activity participated in the 1st Africa TB experts meeting held at Tamarind Hotel, Nairobi.
The meeting whose theme was; “Prevent TB to End TB” held deliberations on strategies of actioning the 2023 United Nations High Level Meeting (UNHLM) declarations on TB made last month in New York.
During the meeting, participants also discussed among others standards for TB screening and prevention to guide TB control interventions across Africa.
Among the take homes from the meeting were that, to end TB there must be a comprehensive approach towards the disease that prioritises TB Prevention along finding cases, and treating those diagnosed.
Globally over 25% of persons are estimated to have TB infection, and this is an ever expanding reservoir that may convert to active TB disease.
Studies show that among high risk groups using Latent TB Infection testing through Interferon-Gamma Release Assay (IGRA) and other methodologies such as among health care workers, contacts of persons with TB, prisoners should be tested for TB infection. This will promote better TB Preventive Therapy uptake and adherence to treatment thus closing the tap towards ending TB.
Present in the meeting were TB experts from National TB Programs, development and implementing partners, civil society, and the community from 15 African countries including; Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, South Africa, Nigeria, Cameroon and Zimbabwe.
