Family Members Asked To Be Cautious When Handling TB Patients

Kakamega,

Friday October 6, 2023

KNA by Teresia Atieno

Caregivers handling patients and family members ailing from Tuberculosis in Kakamega County have been urged to be cautious to avoid contracting the airborne disease.

The disease caused by a bacterium called mycobacterium tuberculosis usually affects the lungs as well as other body parts like kidney, spine and brain.

Cecil Asaji a health practitioner from Makunga Health Centre says that TB is characterized by signs like cough, fever, coughing up blood or mucus, chest pain and pain while breathing.

Mrs. Asaji has also called on Kenyans to avoid crowded places and utilize the use of face mask as well as report any TB cases to the nearest health facility. 

Speaking during a chiefs’ baraza in Lurambi constituency, the health practitioner emphasized on adherence by patients to treatment, noting that non-adherence to treatment has proven to be one of the factors derailing progress.

“Patients must adhere to doctor’s prescription to avoid worsening their conditions and reduce the risk of spreading to another person” she said. 

Dickson Sai an official from the Kenya Red Cross who was present at the Baraza cautioned the residence that any person using TB drugs should not use any abusive drug like alcohol.

“Let’s go for TB checkups to prevent spread and for early treatment”, he urged the residents.

Tuberculosis is the leading cause of single infectious agent deaths globally with the World Health Organization (WHO) classifying Kenya among the high burden countries.

Recent estimates show that around 133,000 people have developed TB, among whom 16,000 are children.

In 2022, the Ministry of Health’s National TB Program reported 90,841 TB cases compared to 77,854 cases notified in 2021.

However, non-adherence to treatment has proven to be one of the factors derailing progress.

Courtesy; KNA