A group Photo of TIFA stakeholders meeting and launch held in Machakos County, Kenya, on March 4th 2024
A novel initiative to combat tuberculosis (TB) in Kenya and Uganda’s cross-border regions has been launched, marking a huge step forward in addressing this major public health concern. The initiative, a one year USAID-funded project, TIFA – Tuberculosis Implementation Framework Agreements, brings together key stakeholders, partners, and specialists from the two nations. It aims to strengthen existing tuberculosis control efforts and improve treatment outcomes for people living and working along the Kenya – Uganda border, as well as the migrants who traverse the border for different reasons.
“In wisdom, it was once said that if you wish to go quickly, you should go alone. However, if you want to travel far, you must do so with others. – Dr Immaculate Kathure.
This comment from Dr. Kathure, Head of TB Program, Kenya, captures the essence of teamwork and the value of working together to achieve a lasting impact, picking that Kenya is one of the six countries globally, that has achieved the 2020 UNHLM targets for reduction in TB incident and TB mortality. It expresses the belief that, while individual accomplishments are admirable, true progress is made via collaborative efforts and partnerships.
Dr. Kathure expressed warm regards on behalf of Mary Muthoni CBS, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health in Kenya, and reaffirmed the Ministry’s and the Kenyan government’s commitment to TB control initiatives. She stressed the critical need to treat tuberculosis, which affects millions each year, with over 97,000 new cases reported in Kenya alone in 2023.
The prevalence of tuberculosis in border areas needs a coordinated approach, with cross-border collaboration critical to success. Key partners driving progress and attaining common goals include health ministries, tuberculosis control programs, and border counties coordination units. The efforts go beyond medical management to address social causes including poverty and stigma.
Dr. Mwanga Michael, Assistant Commissioner at Uganda’s Ministry of Health, emphasized the importance of tracing patients crossing borders to ensure continued treatment. With almost 91,000 tuberculosis infections reported in Uganda each year, joint efforts are critical to improving treatment success rates among cross-border patients.
Dr. Fatuma Adan, IGAD’s Head of Mission in Kenya, emphasized the need of regional cooperation in solving cross-border tuberculosis concerns. The collaboration between Kenya and Uganda, which is backed by entities such as USAID, aims to create effective TB prevention techniques. Capturing tuberculosis patients during border crossings is critical to improving treatment outcomes, especially among vulnerable populations.
Dr. Paul Wekesa, CEO Centre for Health Solutions alluded that we expect that from the collaboration, we can be able to have an increase in the number of those diagnosed, because we know there have been people who miss their treatments or do not complete treatment. So there is risk of new TB incidences where those people interact, regardless of the country. We also expect to have great learnings about how we provide or implement socially acceptable interventions for these populations, understanding their circumstances, so that we can have better outcomes for them and for future populations that may have similar challenges.
The introduction of this collaborative effort demonstrates a commitment to combating tuberculosis across national borders. Significant progress can be made in addressing this widespread public health issue by pooling resources, expertise, and best practices. Joint efforts demonstrate a commitment to improving the lives of those impacted by tuberculosis in Kenya, Uganda, and throughout the region.
In summary, TIFA represents a major advancement in the fight against tuberculosis in cross-border areas. Stakeholders hope to achieve a TB-free society and enhance health outcomes through sustained collaboration and innovative approaches.
