Tuberculosis
A new project set to improve the linkage of referral of TB patients and case identification and notification in Turkana has been launched.
The Department of Health and Sanitation senior management team participated in a county entry meeting for the Tuberculosis (TB) Implementation Framework Agreement (TIFA) project, which seeks to strengthen cross-border coordination of TB Control in Loima and Turkana West Sub-counties.
This project is funded by Jon Snow Incorporation (JSI) through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
According to the Chief Officer (CO) for Preventive and Promotive Health services, Peter Lomorukai, the nomadic nature of the population along borders has led to challenges in access to TB treatment, follow-up of patients, and diagnostic services.
Lomorukai urged the project implementers, National TB Programme and Centre for Health Solutions Kenya, to utilise the community health promoters.
The project will be using the ‘One Health approach’ to reach the pastoralists. The One Health method recognises that the health of people is closely connected to the health of animals and the shared environment.
The project will therefore be offering additional essential health and veterinary services to complement the TB screening activities.
Representing his counterpart for Livestock Development and Fisheries Evans Lomodei said that the department was committed to the One Health strategy as the key livelihood of the county, pastoralism, would be safeguarded.
In their recommendations, Director for Public Health, Alfred Emanman emphasised the need to conduct community entry engagement and include health promotion and public health in its implementation.
Dr Ekiru Kidalio, Medical Services Director, highlighted that the Targeted Universal Testing for TB strategy should be considered in the programme as it has proven to enhance TB prevention and control.
The County Tuberculosis Leprosy and Lung Diseases Coordinator, Dr Job Okemwa, presented the preliminary list of outreach sites which he said would be synchronised in the scheduled engagements with the sub-county management teams.