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KENYA: Tuberculosis Control

Kenya TB Control
Tuberculosis (TB) is a leading killer in Africa, and a primary cause of death among people living with HIV and AIDS. Although low-cost medications are available to treat the disease, lack of resources, delays in seeking care, and poor quality control in laboratories contribute to an especially high rate of TB in Kenya. Social stigma is also a major obstacle to helping those affected by TB—people often deny symptoms or delay seeking care for fear of being ostracized and discriminated against, making crucial early diagnosis difficult.   
 
Since 2006, Doctors of the World – USA (DOW) has worked to increase case detection and access to treatment in the West Pokot District, which has the highest number of reported TB cases in the country. Current efforts are expanding successful strategies to reach isolated communities in this overwhelmingly rural region, where awareness of TB is low and barriers to health care are great.
 
By giving community-based health educators and cough monitors the information and skills to recognize, understand, and treat TB, DOW aims to reduce the number of TB-related deaths.
 
Detecting and Monitoring TB
DOW trains community members to become cough monitors —educators who teach their communities about TB and help those living with the disease access treatment and live healthy lives. Cough monitors help identify people with TB symptoms, discuss the disease with them, and take samples for laboratory testing. Patients who test positive receive a return visit from the cough monitor to encourage them to visit a local hospital for treatment.  DOW has also trained traditional birth attendants as TB educators and referalists in more dispersed rural communities, as they often reach areas with no access to health providers or facilities. 
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OTHER PROJECTS IN KENYA:

HIV/AIDS Prevention, Treatment and Care 

Maternal and Neonatal Health