New TB Drug Launched In Siaya

This follows the revelation that over 90,000 people between the ages 15-44 were diagnosed with the disease in the country in 2013.

US Country representative Dr Kevin Cain said that out of ten patients, nine successfully complete treatment.

Dr Cain said the project is unique and will greatly help in reducing the disease infection.

Dr Jackson Kioko, on behalf of Health Cabinet Secretary James Macharia, launched Isoniazid Preventive Therapy (IPT) that was developed to help prevent TB from affecting people living with Hiv/Aids.

The drug is supposed to prevent TB from progressing to active level, hence it is given to people with the disease who are using a medication called Isoniazid.

Isoniazid is given to people who do not have any symptoms of the disease.

ONCE IN A LIFETIME

The drug is given once in a lifetime for six months to significantly reduce the risk of acquiring the disease and also mitigating its transmission to others.

IPT is also recommended for vulnerable populations like children under the age of five who are exposed to disease.

The study was launched in Siaya during the commemoration of the World Tuberculosis Day.

Dr Kioko said 70 machines have been placed in county and sub-county hospitals to help prompt disease detections, with 50 more achiness expected to be commissioned.

He pointed out that the machines will help in curbing the existing challenge of TB detection in children under the age of five.

He said there was need for more awareness of the disease since it has always been overshadowed by other diseases like HIV/Aids.

According to the report from the World Health Organization (WHO) there is an estimated 9 million new TB cases worldwide annually while 3 million cases were not reported.

Dr Kioko however said Kenya still has a deficit of Sh20 billion to help in fighting the disease in the next four years.

By Maureen Murimi