Kenya in drive against Tuberculosis (TB) and achievement of universal health coverage. PHOTO/MoH
By DUKE TSUMA
newshub@eyewitness.africa
Stakeholders from different sectors from across Kenya have united in the fight against Tuberculosis (TB) as the disease continues to wreak havoc in the country.
The stakeholders who gathered at Huruma Grounds in Eldoret to mark the World TB Day and highlighted the importance of working towards ending TB and achieving universal health coverage.
The event was attended by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, CS Health Dr. Nakhumicha S. Wafula, Principal Secretary Dr. Josephine Mburu, Governor Jonathan Bii, WHO country representative Abdourahmane Diallo, and other dignitaries and partners.
During the event, CS Health Dr. Nakhumicha emphasized the importance of access to quality health services for communities to achieve universal health coverage and improve health outcomes. She also encouraged families to enroll with NHIF to access services and cushion their households from financial difficulty.
The Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, who was the chief guest, highlighted the important role played by Community Health Volunteers in the provision of health services.
The Principal Secretary for Public Health and Professional Standards, Dr. Josephine Mburu, reaffirmed the Kenyan Government’s commitment to end TB by 2030 as part of the End TB Strategy.
She also noted that the government has implemented many interventions through the 2018-2022 National Strategic Plan, and is now developing a new 2023-2028 strategic plan to sustain the gains made so far.
Recent estimates show that 133,000 people in Kenya have developed TB, including 16,000 children. Globally, it is estimated that 10.6 million people fell ill with TB in 2021, reversing years of slow decline.
