Naduat – March 24, 2026 (Public Communication and Media Relations)
Two outreaches held over the last three days, leading up to the World Tuberculosis Day event held today in Naduat, Turkana North, have seen at least 480 people screened for TB. The event, led by the County Government and supported by World Relief, marked a renewed commitment to strengthening efforts toward ending tuberculosis.
Prior to this, the County Government in partnership with Centre for Health Solutions, conducted a mass TB screening in Napetet, Turkana Central last week, where at least 513 people were screened. Of these, 24 tested positive and are currently undergoing treatment. Samples collected in Lomeguro and Naduat sites are currently under review, with results expected within the next 24 hours.
Speaking during the event, the Chief Officer for Preventive and Promotive Health, Agnes Mana, emphasized the need for intensified interventions to curb the disease, noting that TB remains a significant public health concern within the county.
“Turkana County continues to rank among the high TB-burden regions in the country, with 3,415 cases recorded in 2024 and 3,141 cases in 2025,” she said.
The Chief Officer expressed concern over the high proportion of paediatric cases, noting that children account for over 25% of reported infections—an indication of ongoing transmission within households and communities.
She highlighted progress made by the County Government, including strengthening healthcare workforce capacity and expanding access to diagnostic services through the deployment of digital X-ray and GeneXpert technologies.
The County TB, Leprosy and Lung Diseases Coordinator, Abdirahman Musa, noted that several systemic challenges continue to affect TB control efforts. These include limited access to diagnostic services and inadequate screening at the community level.
He added that weak active case-finding mechanisms, high loss-to-follow-up rates, cross-border mobility, malnutrition, delayed diagnosis, and insufficient contact tracing further contribute to the disease burden. High population movement and mining activities were also cited as key drivers of transmission.
Turkana North’s Medical Officer of Health, Joel Lochor, noted that the Sub-County accounts for 48% of the TB caseload, which is significantly higher compared to other sub-counties.
“In 2025, Turkana North recorded 178 positive cases, with 108 cases coming from Nakalale Ward, particularly in Naduat and Makutano areas,” said MOH.
He emphasized the need to bring the conversation closer to communities and intensify awareness creation to enhance prevention, early detection, and treatment adherence.
This year’s theme- ‘Yes! We Can End TB: Led by Countries, Powered by People’ calls for a collective action towards eradicating TB and safeguarding lives.
