Kabete: Over 50 Community Health Assistants (CHAs) and Community Health Promoters (CHPs) in Kabete, Kiambu County, have completed Community TB Care (CTBC) training at Wangige Level 4 Hospital. The training is part of Kenya’s national strategy to improve TB detection and treatment at the community level.

According to Kenya News Agency, the National Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Lung Disease Program (NTLD-P) Annual Report 2022 highlighted that 27 out of 2,316 individuals screened during targeted outreach were diagnosed with TB, underscoring the need for community-based initiatives like Kabete’s. ‘This training has equipped us to identify TB symptoms, support patients during treatment, and prevent transmission,’ said Grace Mwaura, a CHP from Gikambura.

Kiambu is among the counties in Kenya with a high TB burden, alongside Nairobi and Mombasa. ‘TB is present here in Kiambu,’ said Dr. Samuel Karanja, a health practitioner in the county. ‘Training local health workers helps us detect and treat it early.’ One such case is Jane Wanjiru, a 38-year-old mother of three from Kabete. She was referred to Wangige Hospital by a CHP after prolonged coughing and weight loss. ‘I started treatment last week and already feel stronger,’ she said.

The CTBC model is based on global best practices and supported by the World Health Organization. It integrates TB screening into routine home visits and maternal-child health activities. ‘Our trainees can now find TB cases, educate families, support treatment, and address stigma,’ said Nancy Muthoni, a CTBC trainer from NTLD-P.

Starting June 15, the trained CHAs and CHPs will conduct door-to-door TB screenings in high-risk areas of Kabete, aiming to reach 5,000 residents by September. The activity supports Kenya’s National Strategic Plan for Tuberculosis (2023-2027), which targets TB elimination by 2035. ‘Community health workers are key in arresting TB early,’ said Dr. Karanja.