Kenya’s TB campaign proves a success

Public-health programmes credited for a drop in tuberculosis cases in the East African country.

Aggressive campaign against TB in Kenya

A series of public-health campaigns, including more aggressive screening, have been credited with a drop in tuberculosis cases in Kenya.

The screening and treatment programme, regarded as one of the best in the developing world, is credited with taking the rate of TB infections in the East African country from a high of 116,000 in 2006 to 106,000 last year.

However, this significant turnaround comes at an economic and political price. For TB screening and treatment programmes to be effective, supply chains for drugs and equipment and proper training for staff and administrative back-up must be in place.

Al Jazeera’s Peter Greste reports from Nairobi.

Source: Al Jazeera