Kenya AIDS Consortium project to address rising TB cases in Bungoma

Kenya AIDS Consortium has started a three-year project in Bungoma to address the rising number of Tuberculosis cases.

The NGO aims at partnering with the health sector and other NGOs to help address the TB, HIV/AIDS and Malaria cases in Bungoma.

Speaking on Thursday after a two-day workshop,  TB and Leprosy coordinator at Bungoma County Referral Hospital Paul Ilodi said there is a need for concerted efforts to address the cases.

Lodi lauded KANCO for picking Bungoma where the project will run for the next three years.

He said in 2021, the TB cases had started going down but with the eruption of Covid-19, the cases went up.

“Covid-19 negatively impacted our advocacy on TB, Malaria and HIV programmes, we had managed to reduce the menace but Covid-19 dragged our efforts,” he said.

Lodi said so far, Bungoma has recorded 1,580 cases.

He noted that all the 1,580 have been diagnosed, calling on residents who suspect to have TB to visit a nearby health facility and get tested.

He said that KANCO has helped Bungoma capacity-build champions in every constituency so that they can help sensitise the community.

“We have trained TB, HIV and Malaria champions in villages whom we have given testing kits to help in referring clients to health facilities,” Lodi said.

He said that health facilities are also offering Tuberculosis preventive therapy to people living with HIV, people with disability and children to prevent TB transmission.

The coordinator said he is also contacting frequent meetings at every health facility with CHVs and healthcare workers from private and public facilities.

Lodi called on residents experiencing chest pains, weight loss and frequent coughing to visit health facilities and get screened.

Programme assistant global fund tuberculosis Shila Kobia said the programme aims at reducing TB cases and sensitising the community on the importance of TB testing.

“We have trained champions whom we have released to the villages to act as our face,” she said.

However, she said that KANCO has engaged people with disability, HIV patients, and CHV and TB champions to help in educating the community.

She said that the project will end in 2024.

“We have other projects on HIV, TB and Malaria running in other counties,” he said.

Edited by DK