Residents of Igembe have been urged to change their social and health-seeking behaviour to help curb the spread of tuberculosis (TB), as Meru County intensified awareness and screening activities to mark World TB Day at Laare Health Centre.
The event, held in Laare, Igembe North Constituency, brought together senior health officials and medics from all the 10 sub-counties in Meru County, underscoring the county’s renewed commitment to tackling the disease through awareness, early diagnosis and community engagement.
Speaking during the event, Meru County Chief Officer for Health, Koome Muthuri said the fight against TB cannot be left to the government alone, stressing that every member of the community has a role to play in ending the disease.
Muthuri said the day was set aside to raise public awareness on TB and encourage early diagnosis and treatment, noting that despite being preventable and curable, the disease continues to claim lives.
He said more than 3,000 people die of TB globally every day, while 29 people are infected every hour, adding that over 83 million TB patients have been treated and healed since 2000.
“The fight against TB is not only for the government. Each person has a role to play in ending TB,” said Muthuri.
He added that the county government, with support from partners and sponsors, will continue to prioritise primary healthcare, public sensitisation and early screening in order to reduce the impact of TB on affected body organs.
The event also featured free TB screening and free scans for expectant mothers, with health officials saying such outreach services are key in promoting early diagnosis and access to care.
County TB Director, Eunice Kanana said Meru remains among the top five counties in Kenya with a high TB burden, a trend she said should worry residents and prompt collective action.
She noted that the county continues to record TB-related deaths every year, with approximately 200 people dying annually, representing about 4 to 5 per cent of reported cases.
Kanana said the county has invested in modern diagnostic equipment, including AI-enabled X-ray machines, to improve case detection and treatment outcomes.
She called on Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) to intensify awareness campaigns at the grassroots and ensure more people go for screening before the disease advances.
“This is the day TB was discovered in 1882, and it reminds us that yes, we can stop TB. No one is immune,” she said.
Health officials said the spread of TB in Igembe is largely being fuelled by the way people interact in their day-to-day lives.
Director of Public Health, Dr. John Inanga said the community itself must take responsibility for reducing transmission by addressing risky habits and poor living conditions.
“We are the problem as a community. TB is transmitted in the environment that we live in,” he said.
He pointed to overcrowded houses, poorly ventilated rooms, poor nutrition and unsafe social habits as some of the major contributors to the spread of the disease.
Dr. Inanga also warned against behaviours such as poor spitting habits, sharing cigarettes and living in congested spaces, saying these practices continue to expose more people to infection in the region.
He said managing communicable diseases such as TB is possible using simple and economically viable preventive measures, including quick referral of suspected cases, improved hygiene, proper ventilation and ending stigma against patients.
“Diet is medicine number one, and people should avoid stigmatising patients. Behaviour change is critical if we are to stop the spread,” he said.
Meru County Director of Health Administration Mutura Titus said World TB Day serves as a reminder of the county’s commitment to fighting the disease and supporting those already on treatment.
He urged residents to seek medical attention early, support TB patients, and reject misinformation and stigma that often discourage people from going for diagnosis.
“We celebrate this day to remind each other of our commitment in seeking care, supporting those on treatment and fighting stigma and misinformation,” said Mutura.
To strengthen sample transportation and improve testing turnaround time, the county flagged off 10 motorbikes that will be used to collect specimens from different sub-counties.
Ntunene MCA Patrick Mwirigi commended the medical team for their efforts in fighting TB, saying the newly launched motorbikes would greatly ease the transportation of specimens from remote areas to health facilities.
He also pledged to push for the provision of an ambulance for Igembe North to improve emergency response and access to healthcare services.
The Director of Health Administration said Meru has consistently ranked among counties with high TB prevalence, but praised medics for their dedication in tracing and treating patients.
He said if all stakeholders remain committed, the county can make significant progress in ending the disease.
Health officials also called on the County Assembly to continue supporting TB programmes through adequate funding, especially for community sensitisation and outreach campaigns.
They said early diagnosis remains one of the most effective ways of reducing TB complications and saving lives.
By Kamanja Maeria
