By Jean Pierre Afadhali
Kenya’s Ministry of Health has launched an ambitious plan to end Tuberculosis, one of the global deadly diseases by 2030.
The strategy dubbed National Strategic Plan for Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Lung Health 2023/24-2027/28 was launched on Monday by the country’s Public Health and Professional Standards Principal Secretary Mary Muriuki.
“Tuberculosis remains a major Public health concern not only in Kenya but globally and standing as a leading cause of death attributable to a single infectious agent,” said Muriuki
The country Health Permanent Secretary stated that the plan is expected reduce mortality rates because of Tuberculosis related ailments.
Muriuki revealed there has been an emergence of antimicrobial resistance strains causing havoc on both the social and economic aspects of “our societies”
“The emergence of drug resistant tuberculosis cases totaling 756 in 2022 highlights the urgent need for a comprehensive and coordinated response,” she noted.
“Most dying of HIV is not because of the virus but as a result of TB,” she continued.
According to World Health Organisation, TB is the ninth leading cause of death worldwide and the leading cause from a single infectious agent, ranking above HIV/AIDS.
WHO says, over 25 percent of TB deaths occur in the African Region. The emergence of multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) poses a major health security threat and could risk gains made in the fight against TB.
In 2022 an estimate of 10.6 M people fell ill with Tuberculosis globally with over 1.25M being children leading to 1.1m deaths.
Muriuki further said during the TB strategy’s launch “The strategic plan does not only acknowledge the existing challenges in TB control but also proposes practical interventions to address the root causes of these barriers.”
According to official data, Kenya recorded a shocking increase in TB cases in 2022 compared to 2021 with cases being 90,841 and 77,854 respectively.
Abdourahmane Diallo, the World Health Organization (WHO) representative in Kenya, said during the plan to fight TB launch, more than 10.6 million individuals fell ill as a result of TB globally in the year 2022, including an estimated 1.25 million children and adolescents, and the disease caused 1.1 million deaths.
In September last year, Kenya’s Health Cabinet Secretary Suzan Nakhumicha Wafula joined world leaders at the launch of the Coalition of Leaders to End Tuberculosis.
The launch of the Coalition of Leaders to End TB was seen as an important step toward mobilizing global action and investments needed to accelerate TB control efforts and meet the targets outlined in the Global Plan to End TB by 2030.
In Sub-Saharan Africa, Kenya stands as one of the top five nations grappling with the profound impact of this deadly disease. The East African Country’s Cabinet Secretary stressed the disproportionate effect of TB on marginalized and vulnerable populations, often deprived of access to quality healthcare services, which further exacerbates existing inequalities.
