The Director of Health in Homa Bay County, Dr. Gordon Okomo, has urged residents to undergo TB screening and complete their treatment to help prevent the spread of drug-resistant TB.
Dr. Okomo mentioned the challenges in TB treatment in the county, especially among the fishing community, who often experience interrupted treatment, increasing the risk of drug-resistant TB strains.
Hence, Homa Bay remains the only county in the Western region handling drug-resistant TB cases.
According to the research conducted in the year 2022, the county intensified its efforts to combat HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis through a strategic partnership with the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Kenya by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) under a government-to-government funding mechanism.
The MoU aims to foster self-reliance in disease management in Homa Bay, making it the first county in Kenya to receive this support model.
“The partnership’s objective is to establish a self-sufficient community that minimises reliance on foreign aid,” Okomo said.
Furthermore, he lauded partners for their pivotal role in reducing HIV/AIDS prevalence in 2013 from 26% to 10.1% in 2025.
The County Executive Committee (CEC) Member for Public Health and Medical Services, Grace Mercy Osewe, echoed similar sentiments, stating that TB is the county’s leading cause of illness and death.
Last year, the county identified and treated 3,358 TB patients, including 363 children aged 0-14 years.
Notably, men accounted for 53% (1,760 cases) of the total TB patients. “Our focus is on increasing TB screening among men, who make up the majority of cases,” Osewe said.
Osewe, who spoke to the media after the launch of the county TB strategic operational framework 2023-2028, also noted a decline in drug-resistant TB cases since 2021, saying that last year, only nine cases were recorded and attributing this to improved treatment quality and care interventions.
However, Osewe acknowledged that missed TB cases remain a significant challenge, thereby contributing to the ongoing spread of the disease.
“To eliminate TB, we all need to take responsibility. It is time we recognise that TB is everyone’s business,” she emphasised.
She called for a multisectoral approach to combat the disease, stressing the need for collaborative efforts in case detection and resource mobilisation, adding, “Without adequate resources, we cannot win the fight against these diseases.”
To address the challenge of undiagnosed TB cases, the county has intensified active case-finding efforts in all health facilities.
Meanwhile, screening has now been made available and can now be conducted for all patients, regardless of their reason for seeking healthcare services.
On the other hand, Homa Bay County offers free TB treatment across its 207 health facilities, including public, faith-based, and select private hospitals, through collaborative interventions.
The CEC emphasised Homa Bay’s dedication to improving TB and HIV/AIDS management through early diagnosis, quality treatment, and sustained partnerships for a healthier community.
By Sitna Omar
