On March 24, 2016, the world marked the World TB Day. In Kenya, the event was marked all over the country, with counties conducting commemoration events under the slogan ‘Mulika TB! Maliza TB!’ CHS offered support to counties in the form of information, educational and communication (IEC) materials such as banners, t-shirts and printed TB literature. CHS also had the privilege of joining some of the supported counties, where health professionals, partners in health, politicians, students and community members gathered to mark the important event.
Laikipia County
In Laikipia County, the celebrations were held at Likii Dispensary, where the County Executive Member for Health (CEC) Dr David Njoroge officially opened a laboratory. Members of the community were urged to work together to eliminate TB by ensuring that any suspicious cough was screened. They were also asked to practice infection prevention and control and support people suffering from TB to adhere to medication thereby working towards elimination. A free medical camp was also set up for community members at the dispensary as part of the commemoration.
Nyeri County
The Nyeri County event as held at King’ong’o Prison, where participants were called upon to make the fight against TB a personal battle. As a high-risk population, the prison community actively participated in the event, creating awareness through artistic performances. The need to screen for TB was highly emphasised by the Nyeri County Tuberculosis and Leprosy Coordinator (CTLC), Hiram Mathenge who noted that TB can only be effectively managed if it is identified early.
Kiambu County
Kiambu County’s event brought together participants from the county government, County health department and health workers at Kiandutu Health Centre, Thika Sub-County. Delivering the keynote address, Kiambu CTLC, Dr Evelyn Kimani called on citizens to work together in the eradication of TB, noting that everyone had a role to play.
At Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) where CHS supports the comprehensive care centre (CCC), the occasion was marked through TB awareness, sensitization and screening. Participants held a procession through the University to create awareness of the World TB Day Commemoration among students and staff and performed sensitization talks. Health workers and volunteers at the CCC held focused awareness sessions with members of the University.
Nyandarua County
In Nyandarua County, celebrations were held at Kasuku Trading Centre. Notable in the county is that while the number of TB cases in the County has dropped, the number of multi-drug resistant TB (MDR-TB) patients has increased. Citizens were called upon to ensure that all contacts of persons living with TB, particularly children were tested to ensure that treatment is started early.
Meru County
In Meru County, County Director of Public Health, Ephantus Kariuki was concerned about the high number of patients with MDR-TB, given that Meru is ranked fourth among the top 10 high TB burden Counties. He called on citizens to ensure that any suspicious coughs are screened and that infection control measures are taken to ensure that the spread of TB is minimized. The issue of alcoholism was also identified as a major contributing factor to the high number of defaulters in the County.
CHS Support to Counties in the Fight against TB
CHS supports counties in Central Kenya in the implementation and expansion of HIV prevention, care and treatment services in collaboration with the Ministry of Health; including support for TB. Through the CDC-Funded Tegemeza Project, TB/HIV coordinating bodies have been formed in the Central region, with the aim of strengthening and increasing ownership of all TB/HIV activities in the counties in line with the National Strategic Plan for TB.
Through support from the USAID funded TB ARC activity, CHS supports all 47 counties in Kenya through support to the National Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Lung Disease Program (NTLD-Program).
