Naduat, March 25, 2024 (Public Communications and Media Relations)

Turkana County Government commemorated this year’s World Tuberculosis (TB) Day by opening a new TB clinic at Naduat Dispensary, Turkana North Sub-county, to cater to the TB patients in Naduat Village.

In 2023, Makutano Dispensary treated 38 new TB cases, with 27 confirmed through biological testing. Notably, 16 of these patients were from Naduat.

Addressing the commemoration, County Executive for Health and Sanitation Dr Francis Mariao, highlighted that TB patients no longer need to travel long distances to access their drugs.

“People no longer have to wait for days for their results; now it’s a matter of hours. Let’s avail ourselves of the free TB services offered at the new Naduat TB clinic,” he said.

Dr Mariao further urged Naduat residents to take TB prevention health education conducted by the community health promoters seriously.

Director for Community Health Services, Dr Joseph Lolepo, highlighted that the residents’ livelihoods, primarily mining and quarrying, as well as overcrowded living conditions, contributed to the high TB transmission rate in the village.

According to Dr Job Okemwa, County Coordinator of TB, Leprosy, and Lung Diseases, the new Naduat clinic site marks the 83rd such facility in the county.

Denis Erot from World Relief Kenya, Project Coordinator for the Global Fund TB project, stated that they would be collaborating with community health promoters to enhance demand for TB services at the community level. Similarly, Michael Logos from USAID Imarisha Jamii mentioned extending the support of the riders, the sample referral system using boda bodas, to the new TB clinic in Naduat.

In his closing remarks, Dr Francis expressed appreciation to the County Health Staff, particularly the County TB Program for their hard work, local county administration and partners such as World Relief Kenya, USAID Imarisha Jamii, PanAfricare Kenya, and Kenya Red Cross for their support.

This year’s theme was “Yes! We Can End TB”.