USAID AMPATH Uzima Quells Rising Cases of Tuberculosis in Uasin Gishu County with Screening of Street Connected Children

USAID AMPATH Uzima provided vital support to the Uasin Gishu County Health team by aiding in the screening of over 250 street connected children at the Eldoret Children's Rescue Centre between 27th and 28th July.

This initiative arose as a necessity after two cases of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR TB) were traced back to people living in street environments. The urgency of the situation demanded immediate action to contain the spread. In partnership with the Uasin Gishu County Department of Health, the program embarked on a two-day screening exercise for vulnerable street connected youth utilizing a solar powered x-ray truck.

“Fighting TB requires a multi-sectoral approach as well as vigorous efforts to look for the bacteria. With emerging MDR TB cases, each population needs to be screened, investigated and treated for TB,” said John Konchellah, TB lead for USAID AMPATH Uzima. “The program is working in concert with the Uasin Gishu County Health Department to reach vulnerable populations with prevention messages and provide services at the grassroot level to find missing TB cases.”

The screening exercise follows commitments made during the World TB Day on March 24. Uasin Gishu County hosted the national celebrations that called on stakeholders to increase collaboration, expand access to services, consistent screening and strengthening community systems to fight TB.

“The primary objective of the screening exercise was not only to detect TB cases among street connected children, but also to ensure timely linkage to appropriate treatment,” added Charles Makwila, county leprosy-TB coordinator.

Through the support of USAID AMPATH Uzima and other partners, the county is also supporting aggressive TB preventive therapy for all contacts linked to infected persons, active case finding using boda boda riders, supporting private healthcare facilities with TB drugs and incentives to accelerate case finding and treatment.

This comprehensive approach is an inspiring example of the role of multisectoral collaboration in the fight against TB and towards ending TB as a public health challenge by 2030.