Nakuru County today joined the rest of the world in commemorating World TB Day 2025 under the theme “Yes, We Can End TB – Commit, Invest, Deliver.“ The county, with a population of 2.3 million, has made significant progress in the fight against tuberculosis, screening 1.9 million people and achieving an impressive 91.62% screening rate.
Speaking at the event, County Executive Committee Member for Health, Roselyn Mungai, emphasized the importance of community engagement in TB prevention and treatment. She reiterated that TB is preventable, treatable, and curable, urging all stakeholders to play their role in breaking the chain of infection.
“Early diagnosis and treatment completion are critical. We must work together—health workers, community leaders, and families—to eliminate TB in our communities,” said Ms. Mungai.
To strengthen efforts, Nakuru County has launched a 100-day defaulter and contact tracing initiative to ensure every TB case is identified and treated. The Department of Health reaffirmed its commitment to investing in TB response strategies and delivering quality healthcare services to eradicate the disease.
Expanding Diagnostic Capacity
County TB and Lung Health Coordinator, Dr. Neimah Barasa, highlighted Nakuru’s continued expansion of TB diagnostic services over the years. Currently, the county has:
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107 microscopy sites and seven GeneXpert sites for rapid and accurate TB diagnosis.
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A well-structured sample transportation network to serve areas without direct access to diagnostic facilities.
Efforts are underway to further expand diagnostic capacity in remote areas, ensuring that every resident has timely access to testing and treatment.
Addressing Challenges in TB Control
While Nakuru County boasts a TB treatment success rate of 84.44%, some challenges remain, including:
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A 5.23% defaulter rate, highlighting the need for enhanced patient follow-up.
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A TB-HIV co-infection rate of 25.8%, necessitating integrated health interventions.
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A 7.57% mortality rate, emphasizing the urgency of sustained awareness and service delivery improvements.
Dr. Barasa reaffirmed the County Government’s commitment to strengthening interventions through targeted outreach, increased investment in diagnostic infrastructure, and collaboration with partners to eliminate TB.
Support from Partners
She acknowledged the valuable support of Amref Health Africa, the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), and USAID Tujenge Jamii, among other partners actively involved in TB programming and the newly launched Rapid Results Initiative (RRI).
As Nakuru County continues to invest in healthcare and intensify TB response efforts, residents are encouraged to seek early diagnosis, complete treatment, and join hands in the fight to end TB for good.
