Towards Strengthening TB Diagnostic and Treatment Capacity in The Country

Nairobi April19,2023

Principal Secretary State Department for Public Health and Professional Standards Dr Josephine Mburu has today held a meeting with USAID & the National TB, Leprosy and Lund Disease officers to discuss planned assessment of TB diagnostic network in the Country.The purpose of the assessment is to among others things, guide interventions to improve access, capacity and quality of the TB diagnostic network to increase detection of TB and MDR-TB.
The review process will include various components of the laboratory systems and diagnostic network including: availability and use of correct diagnosis tools and procedures, second line drug resistance testing in conjuction with newer drugs and shorter treatment regimens for Multi-Drug Resistant TB(MDR-TB), management of lab commodities among others.
The PS emphasized the importance of early detection in the treatment and prevention of the spread and said the exercise will help build on the progress made in TB prevention, diagnosis and treatment in the country