Nacada has rolled out a programme to screen drug users in Mombasa for TB and HIV.
The TB ARC 11 programme, which is funded by USAID, will focus on TB, leprosy and lung diseases.
It is being implemented at Miritini Rehabilitation Centre.
Nacada CEO Victor Okioma said drug users are at high risk of contracting tuberculosis, HIV and other diseases.
“The screening and identification of TB among drug users is very important,” he said.
Okioma spoke during the opening of a four-day medical camp at Miritini Rehabilitation Centre on Wednesday. The medical camp will run until Saturday.
"The camp will offer mental health support, nutrition counselling and Covid-19 vaccination," hse said.
Okioma said the centre receives Sh100 million annually from the national government to support its activities.
He said Nacada was seeking support from donors to put up a Sh1.2 billion model drug rehabilitation centre in Miritini.
The facility will have a modern hospital, a training wing and a multipurpose hall to cater to reformed drug addicts.
Interior CAS Winnie Guchu said the centre has helped reform drug addicts and provides care and support to the affected youth.
“The institution became operational in 2019 and since then there has been a lot of work to transform it into a fully-fledged institution to rehabilitate and treat drug users,” she said.
Guchu said the centre has 37 inpatients. Out of the number, 32 are male and two female.
It also has 300 outpatients receiving treatment, counselling and medically assisted therapy.
“Drug users are prone to TB,” Guchu said.
She said the government is working to ensure the centre becomes a one-stop shop for people to get treatment for different ailments, not just rehabilitation.
The approach will help to reduce the number of defaulters in TB treatment.
The rehab will also have a training centre in the near future, she said.
“We are working to find out how the master plan can be implemented so that we have a fully operational rehab centre,” Guchu said.
Edited by A.N
