Lodwar – March 21, 2026 (Public Communication and Media Relations)
The County Government, through the Department of Health and Sanitation, has successfully concluded a three-day integrated TB-screening exercise in Turkana Central ahead of the World TB Day scheduled to take place in Naduat on Tuesday, March 24, 2026.
The outreach, supported by the National TB-Programme (Tamatisha TB Campaign) through the Centre for Health Solutions (CHS), aimed at reaching out-of-reach populations who rarely seek health services at facilities.
Speaking during the exercise, Turkana Central Sub-County TB and Leprosy Coordinator, Jonah Ng’asike noted that many individuals with TB symptoms do not seek the required medical attention.
“We are giving them an opportunity to know their TB status by bringing services closer to them through screening using a chest X-ray fitted with artificial intelligence (AI) and able to detect TB with an accuracy of 70–90%,” he said.
He explained that these x-ray machines are used for clients aged 13 years and above, while the children below that age gap, expectant and lactating mothers are screened through symptom assessment and allowed to submit samples for laboratory diagnosis.
The screening exercise targeted over 1,000 people, and 516 people have been reached with 448 screened with digital x-ray. About 55 samples were collected for further testing of which 10 were confirmed positive for TB.
Ng’asike added that the improved technology can also detect other underlying chest conditions such as fibrosis and nodules, enabling early intervention and referral.
“It is important to conduct the screening ahead of World TB Day, so we get a clear picture of where we stand, especially in within the county’s TB hotspots,” he noted.
He further explained that the AI-supported system generates a score, and if the score is 0-0.4, it is considered as normal. While a score of 0.5 and is considered to be presumptive for TB, and immediately referred for further diagnosis and treatment, unlike traditional methods that largely rely on clinician observation.
