Enhanced TB response

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has launched a tuberculosis (TB) support programme aimed at enhancing TB response and management in seven counties.This was revealed by the Nakuru County Executive Member for Health, Roselyn Mungai, during a USAID-TB programme County Entry meeting held in Nakuru County and organised by the Centre for Health Solutions.She added that this initiative seeks to accelerate progress towards Kenya's end-TB targets by significantly reducing TB incidence and mortality rates.Mungai observed that TB is a significant public health concern, especially in areas with high infection rates, and rapid response helps reduce the disease burden.The CEC said TB is a contagious disease; hence, prompt diagnosis and treatment prevent its spread to healthy individuals, curbing potential outbreaks. And early interventions improve patients' outcomes, reducing the morbidity and mortality associated with the diseases.The officer cautioned TB patients that incomplete or delayed treatment can lead to the development of drug resistance strains, which are harder and more expensive to treat. Hence, there is a need for a faster response to ensure patients complete their treatment regimen correctly.Mungai noted with concern that TB affects the most economically productive age group (15-45 years), and effective management minimises the socio-economic impact by reducing the loss of productive workdays and healthcare costs.Building upon the achievements of previous USAID TB programmes, (USAID TB ARC and TB ARC I), this new effort, she noted, aligns with the agency's Global Tuberculosis Strategy for 2023-2030. The programme is centred around five key objectives, Reach, Cure, Prevent, Innovate, and Sustain.To implement this programme, USAID has partnered with four organizations that includes the Respiratory Society of Kenya, Stop TB Partnership, Epidemic Control Systems (EPCON), and Management Sciences for Health (MSH). This collaborative approach will leverage their respectiv e expertise to address the complex challenges associated with TB control.It was announced that the counties of Nakuru, Turkana, West Pokot, Kericho, Kisumu, Siaya, and Homa Bay will benefit from the enhanced TB response and management strategies implemented through this program.Source : Kenya News Agency