Health

Kenya unveils ambitious five-year plan to tackle tuberculosis

Principal Secretary for Public Health and Professional Standards Mary Muthoni.

By Eunice Omollo | Monday, January 22, 2024

Kenya Ministry of Health launched the National strategic plan for TB, Leprosy and Lung health in Nairobi, setting its sights on combating Tuberculosis in the country. Principal Secretary for Public Health and Professional Standards Mary Muthoni unveiled the plan.

In the battle against Tuberculosis (TB), Ministry of Health is in the forefront, facing a relentless adversary that has infected thousands each year. The year 2022 witnessed a stark peak, with 90,841 Kenyans falling victim to the world's deadliest infectious disease. Many walk unknowingly alongside the infected, highlighting the urgent need for a comprehensive strategy to combat TB's devastating impact.

On Monday, the Ministry of Health launched a bold and ambitious five-year plan—a crusade aimed at conquering Tuberculosis, Leprosy, and Lung diseases. Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni addressed the room, acknowledging the formidable foe they faced—a disease that claims families, cripples economies, and casts a long shadow of fear and loss.

Keep reading

The statistics revealed a grim reality. Despite notable progress in recent years, with a 32 per cent drop in TB incidence since 2015, the sheer number of undiagnosed cases remained chillingly high. This silent army of 43,000 Kenyans, obscured in the darkness of the undiagnosed, posed a significant threat, unknowingly spreading the disease. The fight wasn't merely against the bacteria but against misinformation, limited healthcare access, and the cruel stigma that plagued the sick.

The new plan emerged as a meticulously crafted weapon in this war, designed to strike on multiple fronts. Early detection took center stage, with plans to introduce innovative digital chest x-rays in remote areas and strengthen community-based screening programs. Misdiagnosis, a persistent leech draining resources and delaying treatment, would be combatted through enhanced training for healthcare workers and standardized diagnostic protocols.

Recognising the deep social roots of the disease, the plan aimed to "de-medicalize" TB, transforming it from a whispered fear into a collective responsibility. Partnership with community leaders and NGOs would facilitate education campaigns, dispelling myths and replacing discrimination with empathy. Mothers struggling with HIV, aware that half their newborns faced a potentially fatal future without immediate treatment, would receive targeted support.

The 32 per cent gap, a silent chasm of missed opportunities, loomed large. However, in the eyes of the healthcare workers, community leaders, and TB survivors gathered that day, there was a glimmer of defiance. This was not just a plan; it was a promise to the 90,841, and the countless others yet to come, that their fight wouldn't be in vain.

Notably, Kenya reported 90,841 TB cases in 2022, marking a remarkable 42 per cent reduction in TB mortality, surpassing global targets. Globally, eight countries accounted for more than two-thirds of TB cases in 2022, underscoring the global significance of concerted efforts against this deadly disease.