WHO Warns of TB Epidemic

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Kenya: WHO Warns of TB Epidemic

The East African Standard (Nairobi) 28 March 2008

Mwai, Nairobi

The Government and its development partners spend about Sh2.5 billion

annually to fight new strains of tuberculosis.

This is in response to a World Health Organisation (WHO) warning that

TB could spiral into an epidemic if its spread is not checked.

WHO Country Director, Dr Okello, said Kenya was experiencing

difficulties diagnosing the multi-drug resistant strain of TB (MDR TB).

" Our laboratories do not have the capacity to detect the new strain

and, therefore, serious challenges arise in controlling its spread, "

Okello said.

According to statistics from the Ministry of Health, 20,000 people die

from TB annually.

Speaking during celebrations to mark the World TB day, which was

rescheduled from Monday, Okello said there was no inbuilt surveillance

system to warn of drug resistance.

The WHO boss said the problem was further aggravated by the fact that

the follow-up of patients was not aggressive and therefore the risk of

developing MDR TB was high.

Kenya is in the process of putting up an isolation ward at the

Kenyatta and Moi Teaching and Referral hospitals to treat patients

with MDR TB.

Health PS, Dr Hezron Nyangito, said the MDR treatment would be

expanded to other health centres.

In a speech read on his behalf by an administrative officer at the

ministry, Ms Ngare, the PS said HIV/Aids was fuelling the spread

of TB.

Nyangito said last year, 80 per cent of TB patients were tested for

HIV/Aids and those affected were started on anti-retroviral therapy.

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