The County Government of Nakuru is testing and providing treatment regimens to individuals at a higher risk of contracting tuberculosis (TB) as part of routine health checks for its workforce.
In preparation for World TB Day, the Department of Health is screening all healthcare workers to identify cases and raise awareness of the TB burden.
This year’s World TB Day celebrations will happen on Sunday, March 24th, at St. Gerald’s Catholic Church in Maili Sita, Bahati sub-county.
Nakuru County has a significant burden of tuberculosis, with approximately 233 cases per 100,000 people and 20 deaths per 100,000 people. In 2023, there were 698 new cases reported, including 20 cases of drug-resistant TB.
During her swearing-in speech, Governor Susan Kihika pledged to enhance health services, primarily by improving working conditions and terms of employment for health workers at all levels.
Roselyn Mungai, the County Minister for Health, stated that her department is leading by example by being the first to undergo screening and mobilizing for mass testing under the theme “YES WE CAN END TB.”
“Members of the public are encouraged to undergo screening at County Hospitals or receive testing at the nearest Sub County Hospital after screening,” she emphasized.
The County has achieved an 87 per cent success rate in TB treatment, thanks to proactive case searching, tracking and tracing individuals who miss appointments, and ensuring strict adherence to treatment.
The Sub-county health management teams and TB and leprosy coordinators are closely collaborating with the Tuberculosis Accelerated Response and Care (TB ARC II) project to incorporate TB prevention and management in workplaces and learning institutions throughout the County.
TB ARC II is a five-year USAID-funded initiative to reduce the incidence, TB-related morbidity, and mortality in line with the 90-95-0 targets to end the TB epidemic in Kenya.
The Department of Health Services is utilizing the electronic Community Health Information System (eCHIS) to register households and provide comprehensive health coverage for everyone in the county.
The implementation of electronic registration signifies the county’s commitment to leveraging technology to improve healthcare services, streamline data management, and contribute to the realization of universal health coverage at the community level.
