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The World Health Organization (WHO) issued guidelines this week to improve the treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) by recommending switching to an entirely oral regimen.
It will replace the six-month daily injections previously used to treat MDR-TB.
WHO recommends strengthening oral therapy through active surveillance of drug safety and advising patients to complete their treatment.
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In Kenya, TB ranks fifth among the deadliest diseases, with the government struggling to contain multidrug-resistant TB and diagnosing more than 40% of patients tested.
Ensure the diagnosis
World Tuberculosis Day is celebrated today under the theme "It's time …"
Experts say the unfinished sentence is meant to remind the world of the commitments made and the need to take action to strengthen research, funding, human rights and accountability in the fight against tuberculosis.
In Kenya, the theme is: "It is time for Kenya to be free of TB."
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The secretary of cabinet of the Minister of Health, Sicily Kariuki, on Friday launched a national strategic plan to fight against tuberculosis, leprosy and pulmonary diseases.
She said that in the past year, the country had treated and treated 94,434 TB patients, including 10,087 children and 669 with MDR-TB.
The SC noted that, although diagnosis of TB and nutritional support is offered in all government and faith-based settings, 40% of TB cases are missed each year.
"We are reminded to redouble our efforts to find all the missed cases and put them on treatment, in line with our national call to Mulika TB, Maliza TB," Kariuki said.
She said the national strategic plan was in line with President Uhuru Kenyatta's commitment to ensure the diagnosis and treatment of at least 597,000 people with TB by 2023.
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The plan targets 55,000 children, 542,000 adults and 4,500 people who are resistant to tuberculosis. It will also provide preventive TB treatment to at least 90,000 Kenyans at risk.
Evaline Kibuchi, chief national coordinator of the Stop TB Partnership in Kenya, an organization that brings together government officials, businesses and community members, welcomed the new treatment scheme, saying that some patients are suffering from diabetes. Devastating side effects of injectable combinations.
"The toxicity was too high. People would have undesirable side effects, including deafness. Injections can become tedious. Some people have chosen death rather than injections, "she said.
Alice Achieng, who was diagnosed with TB in 2011, says she stopped injecting after a month.
"I could not sit because I had been injected everywhere. I would lie on my stomach and pray for death, "she says. She has developed MDR-TB and is currently undergoing treatment.
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The initiative will be put to the test in Kiambu County and is expected to cover all counties by 2025.
Ms. Kibuchi believes that adolescents and students are often left behind in the fight against tuberculosis. She said she had managed cases of students being sent back from school after revealing that they had tuberculosis.
CS Kariuki says their plans will cover schools.
"We have also worked with the Ministry of Education to lead health programs focused on preventing TB. I urge other sectors, including ministries and businesses, to identify and badume their critical roles in the response to TB, "she said.
Been successfully treated
Rudolf Eggers, WHO representative in the country, said Kenya had made progress in eradicating the disease and that more than one million people had been treated successfully over the past 10 years. last years.
The Kiambu County Health Executive said the county had treated and treated more than 5,000 TB patients, 40 of whom were resistant to the disease.
Matungulu MP Stephen Mule, Chair of the Parliamentary Caucus on Tuberculosis, said the National Assembly would ensure that the department receives more funding to fight these diseases.
He called for reforms of the National Health Insurance Fund to ensure coverage of TB patients. He added that their committee had increased the budget allocated to the diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis to 400 million shillings.
Related Topics
World Health OrganizationWHOMDR-TBTuberculosis
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