NTLDKenya

17/03/2026

16/03/2026

Stakeholders Convene in Nairobi to Translate TB Research into Action

Policymakers, researchers, development partners, civil society organizations, and tuberculosis (TB) champions convened earlier today in Nairobi for the Kenya National Stakeholders’ Tuberculosis Dissemination Forum, a high-level engagement aimed at translating research evidence into policy and programmatic action to strengthen the country’s TB response.

The forum brought together key actors from across the health sector to review and discuss findings from several important studies, including the LIGHT Consortium research, the Community Rights and Gender Assessment (CRG), the Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) study, the TB Stigma Index and the Integrated Program on Asthma, COPD, and Tuberculosis (iPACT). The insights generated from these studies are expected to guide the development of more patient-centred, rights-based, and gender-responsive TB services in Kenya.

Speaking during the forum, Dr. Immaculate Kathure emphasized the importance of ensuring that research evidence informs policy decisions and results in meaningful impact for communities affected by TB.

“We must change the narrative around tuberculosis in Kenya. Evidence and research should not remain on paper, they must inform policies that translate into real impact for the communities we serve,” she said.

Dr. Kathure also underscored the importance of incorporating the perspectives of those directly affected by the disease.

“The lived experiences of people affected by TB must be central to our narrative. Their voices help shape more responsive, people-centered policies and programs.”

The discussions also reflected on the significant progress Kenya has made in the fight against TB over the past decade.

Hon. Stephen Mule, Co-Chair of the Africa TB Caucus, acknowledged the collective efforts that have contributed to these achievements.

“As a TB champion since 2010, I have witnessed firsthand the commitment and partnerships that have driven this progress,” said Hon. Mule.

He further noted that sustained political commitment and collaboration have been critical in reducing the burden of TB in the country.

“Today, we can proudly say that TB deaths in Kenya have been reduced by more than half—a testament to the power of coordinated action, investment, and strong political leadership.”

The dissemination forum forms part of the pre–World TB Day engagements aimed at strengthening collaboration among stakeholders and ensuring that research evidence informs national and county TB policies, funding priorities, and program implementation.

Stakeholders at the meeting emphasized that translating research evidence into practical interventions and sustained investments will be essential in accelerating progress toward Kenya’s goal of ending TB by 2030.

13/03/2026

Rift Valley Counties Expand Lung Health Services through iPACT

In Nandi and Trans Nzoia counties, county health leaders joined national and partner teams to launch the iPACT (Integrated Program on Asthma, COPD, and Tuberculosis) rollout, aimed at strengthening integrated lung health services.

Courtesy meetings held with County Directors of Health and County Health Management Teams reviewed the burden of respiratory diseases and mapped priority areas for implementation.

Dorcas Kiptui, NTP team lead for the cluster, explained that the program expands the scope of respiratory care beyond TB. “iPACT allows our health system to detect asthma, COPD & TB using integrated tools and train healthcare workers, ensuring patients receive the right diagnosis and treatment,” she said.

Building on this vision, Dr. Ahmeddin Omar, Deputy Director Medical Services, NTP, remarked, "Integrating lung health screening & management into routine service delivery in our health facilities will significantly improve patient outcomes, reduce burden of respiratory illness and strengthen overall health."

County officials expressed optimism that iPACT will greatly improve service delivery. Nandi CTLC, Silas Lagat, stressed the need for structured public sensitization on lung health & expanded diagnostics, given that only 40% of healthcare workers are currently trained in TB & lung conditions. He called for spirometer deployment to enable earlier COPD detection plus skill cascading to lower-level facilities.

Jayne Alenga, CTLC Trans Nzoia, described the project as transformative. “By building on our existing TB infrastructure, we can ensure that patients with all forms of lung disease are identified early & managed effectively,” she said.

Richard Njenga from Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) Kenya echoed these sentiments by highlighting the importance of integrating chronic lung condition services into existing health systems & utilizing available infrastructure.

"This will enable the detection and management of patients while generating reliable data for decision-making. Collaboration will be key to successful and sustainable implementation," he added.

From Wednesday, healthcare workers from the two counties have been attending a three-day Training of Trainers session to strengthen clinical capacity. This will be followed by cascade training across facilities from March to April 2026, community sensitization in April & mentorship support starting in May.

This rollout, supported by CHAI, GSK, Gates Foundation, aligns with Kenya’s national strategy to integrate TB with broader lung health services. By leveraging existing TB platforms, introducing spirometry and AI-enabled diagnostics where feasible, and prioritizing early detection and proper management, iPACT aims to substantially reduce the respiratory disease burden in Rift Valley primary healthcare settings.

13/03/2026

Coastal Counties Strengthen Lung Health Response through iPACT

This week, Kilifi, Kwale, and Taita Taveta counties also joined the national rollout of the Integrated Program on Asthma, COPD, and Tuberculosis (iPACT), following courtesy calls with county leadership and health management teams. The engagements were led by The Ministry of Health -National TB Program, alongside technical teams and Clinton Health Access Initiative Kenya

Dr. Ibrae Umuro, who leads the coastal cluster rollout team, said the initiative is designed to strengthen early detection and improve patient outcomes. “Integrated lung health services will ensure that patients presenting with respiratory symptoms receive comprehensive evaluation, enabling clinicians to identify TB and other lung diseases earlier,” he said.

County health leaders welcomed the initiative and pledged their implementation support. In Taita Taveta, the Director of Health, Elvis Mwandawiro, noted that strengthening healthcare worker capacity is key to addressing respiratory diseases in the region. “By training clinicians across our facilities, we will significantly improve the quality of diagnosis and care for our communities,” he said.

According to Victoria Wanjohi, Senior Program Manager at the Clinton Health Access Initiative, lessons from the pilot counties are now shaping the national scale-up.

“The proof of concept phase in Nakuru, Murang’a, and Nairobi gave us something we previously lacked: real data on integrated lung health services. Those lessons are now guiding the national scale-up, helping counties strengthen capacity, improve diagnosis, and ultimately transform the lives of patients affected by TB and other lung diseases.”


The rollout has also included Training of Trainers sessions, during which healthcare workers received practical training in lung health screening tools and case management protocols. The program is supported by the Clinton Health Access Initiative with funding from the Gates Foundation and GSK

12/03/2026

Central Kenya Counties Embrace Integrated Lung Health Approach

Nyeri, Kirinyaga, and Tharaka Nithi counties endorsed the rollout of the iPACT initiative during engagement meetings with County Health Management Teams. The discussions focused on aligning county priorities with the national strategy to integrate TB and chronic respiratory disease management.

Aiban Ronoh, NTP team lead for the cluster, said the program will build on Kenya’s strong TB program infrastructure to deliver comprehensive lung health services. “We are strengthening the health system so that a patient presenting with respiratory symptoms can receive complete assessment and care under one integrated service,” he said.

County officials acknowledged the importance of strengthening diagnostic capacity. Hiram Mathenge, Nyeri County TB and Lung health coordinator, noted that integrated screening will help address long-standing diagnostic gaps. “For many years, we have focused primarily on TB, yet many patients suffer from other lung diseases that require similar attention,” he said.

The program also represents a longer-term shift toward comprehensive lung health. As noted by Davis Karambi, Senior Director, Infectious Disease Program, Clinton Health Access Initiative Kenya “We need to move away from focusing only on TB and instead have a program in which all respiratory issues can be addressed.”

By broadening the focus beyond TB alone, iPACT aims to reduce missed diagnoses, lower respiratory disease morbidity, and strengthen health system resilience against both communicable and non-communicable lung diseases.

Healthcare workers from across the counties are currently undertaking a three-day Training of Trainers session designed to strengthen diagnostic skills, improve case management, and support the cascade of training to facility-level staff in the coming weeks.

12/03/2026

This webinar explores the intersection of tuberculosis (TB) and human rights in Kenya, focusing on the principles in the TB Patient Charter. It highlights the rights and responsibilities of people affected by TB, emphasising dignity, non-discrimination, access to quality care, and patient-centred services. The session aims to strengthen awareness and accountability among communities, health providers, and policymakers to ensure TB services respect and uphold patients’ rights.

12/03/2026

Western Region Counties Strengthen Lung Health Services through iPACT

Health leaders in Busia, Kakamega and Bungoma counties have begun implementing the Integrated Program on Asthma, COPD and Tuberculosis (iPACT) following county sensitization meetings led by The Ministry of Health and Clinton Health Access Initiative.

The two-day engagement brought together County Health Management Teams, technical officers and implementing partners to review the burden of respiratory diseases and plan for county-level implementation.

Lilian Kerubo, NTP team lead for the cluster, noted that integrated lung health services will help close diagnostic gaps. “Many patients present with respiratory symptoms that resemble TB but may actually be asthma or COPD. This program ensures our health workers can identify and treat the full spectrum of lung diseases,” she said.

Drawing from the pilot phase in Nakuru County, lessons on scaling integrated lung health services were shared with the counties beginning implementation.

Dr. Neima Barasa, County TB and Lung health Coordinator in Nakuru, explained: “From the lessons learnt during the pilot phase in Nakuru County, we were able to share insights on how the counties being trained, Kakamega, Bungoma and Busia, will cascade the scale-up of lung health services within their counties.”

County officials highlighted the importance of strengthening frontline capacity. Bungoma County TB and Leprosy Coordinator Paul Lodi noted that the approach will improve early diagnosis and treatment continuity across facilities. “Training our clinicians across all levels of care will improve patient outcomes and ensure no respiratory disease is missed,” he explained.

Ali Gathee from CHAI Kenya, emphasized the role of collaboration in implementation. “An integrated lung health approach will strengthen the county’s ability to detect, manage, and prevent respiratory diseases. Collaboration between county leadership, healthcare workers, and partners will be key in ensuring effective implementation and improved patient outcomes,” he said.

The initiative has proceeded with a three-day Training of Trainers session for healthcare workers at TB treatment sites, with standardized participation across Level 2 to Level 5 facilities. The training marks the beginning of a cascade training program expected to run across sub-counties between March and April 2026

11/03/2026

Counties in Nyanza Launch Integrated Lung Health Rollout

The rollout of the Integrated Program on Asthma, COPD and Tuberculosis (iPACT) began in Western Kenya with courtesy calls to County Directors of Health and County Health Management Teams in Siaya, Homa Bay and Kisumu. The meetings, led by the Ministry of Health’s National Tuberculosis Program (NTP), introduced county leaders to the integrated lung health strategy aimed at strengthening screening, diagnosis and management of respiratory diseases.

Dr. Florence Wakesho, team lead from the TB Program, emphasized that integration will strengthen Kenya’s response to respiratory illnesses. “Through iPACT we are moving beyond treating TB alone. Health workers will now be able to screen and diagnose multiple lung conditions in one patient encounter,” she said.

County representatives welcomed the initiative, noting the opportunity to strengthen health systems and improve diagnosis.
Dr. Hellen Ogollah, County Director of Health in Homa Bay, said the training will empower frontline workers to identify cases earlier.

“This initiative will equip our healthcare workers with the skills and tools needed to detect lung diseases earlier and manage them more effectively,” she noted.

Following the courtesy calls, healthcare workers from Level 2–5 facilities are attending a three-day Training of Trainers session focused on integrated diagnosis, spirometry use and clinical management. The initiative is supported by the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) with funding from the Gates Foundation and GSK.

11/03/2026

Welcome to the second week of webinars in commemoration of World TB Day. The National TB program, in collaboration with the World TB Day planning committee, invites you to this webinar.

Click to register

https://amref.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_7ECqVTyUQUG47RzIwSFVOQ

Invited: Healthcare workers, Registrars and Medical School students
AKMLSO will award free CPD points to all attending members.

11/03/2026

Welcome to the second week of webinars in commemoration of World TB Day. The National TB program, in collaboration with the World TB Day planning committee, invites you to this webinar.

Click to register

https://amref.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_7U76P0x4RYuWnJMy0elPFw

Invited:Community actors and Students from institutions of higher learning.

05/03/2026

𝐓𝐮𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐊𝐞𝐧𝐲𝐚: 𝐒𝐲𝐦𝐩𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐬, 𝐑𝐢𝐬𝐤 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬, 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭

Join us for a discussion on TB-related stigma in Kenya. The session will examine how stigma impacts individuals, communities, workplaces, and institutions of higher learning. Drawing on key findings from Kenyan research and the Community Rights and Gender Assessment, we will show how misinformation, fear of infection, gender dynamics, and gaps in confidentiality contribute to stigma across different settings.

Your participation and insights are critical to shaping effective, inclusive strategies to eliminate TB-related stigma.

Join us for a discussion on TB-related stigma in Kenya. We will examine how stigma impacts individuals, communities, workplaces, and institutions of higher l...

04/03/2026

The National TB program, in collaboration with the World TB Day planning committee, is inviting you to a scheduled webinar targeting Healthcare workers, Registrars and Medical school students. Click to register https://amref.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_qstsHS9aSQ2FxMInF7O0eQ