Mid-Term Review: Strengthening Kenya’s Fight Against TB, Lung Diseases and Leprosy
The Ministry of Health, through the Division of Tuberculosis and Other Lung Diseases (DTLD), is undertaking a national Mid-Term Review of the National Strategic Plan 2023/24–2027/28 aimed at appraising progress, identifying implementation gaps, and generating recommendations to strengthen delivery of TB, lung health, and leprosy services across the country.
The exercise brings together multidisciplinary teams conducting field reviews in Kisumu, Embu, Makueni, Murang’a, Trans Nzoia, Narok, Kwale, and Nairobi counties. The review focuses on key program areas, including tuberculosis (TB), lung health, leprosy, TB/HIV integration, community engagement, supply chain systems, surveillance, and overall health service delivery.
The review has highlighted significant progress made by counties in strengthening integrated healthcare services, improving TB treatment outcomes, enhancing community health systems, and adopting digital innovations and AI-supported diagnostics to improve early detection and patient care.
Health facilities such as Makueni County Referral Hospital and Kibwezi Sub-County Hospital showcased notable best practices, including the use of AI-enabled chest X-ray technology, GeneXpert testing, integrated TB/HIV care, strengthened respiratory services, and community-centred approaches to disease prevention and treatment.
Despite the gains, the review has also identified critical gaps that continue to affect service delivery. These include limited healthcare worker capacity in management of chronic lung diseases, inadequate diagnostic equipment such as spirometers and peak flow meters, weak leprosy surveillance systems, persistent stigma, and funding constraints affecting implementation of planned interventions.
Speaking during the exercise, Drusilla Nyaboke, who led the Makueni review team, underscored the importance of the review in improving quality of care and strengthening integrated health services.
“This review aims to comprehensively assess progress in the implementation of the National Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Lung Health Strategic Plan (2023/24–2027/28), evaluate performance against established goals and targets, and provide actionable recommendations to accelerate impact, strengthen system performance, and sustain gains toward TB elimination,” said Drusilla Nyaboke.
The ongoing review aligns with Kenya’s broader commitment to accelerate progress towards ending TB and strengthening integrated lung health services through data-driven decision-making, stronger surveillance systems, community engagement, and people-centred healthcare approaches.
Key partners supporting the exercise include the United States Government, CDC, WHO Kenya, Amref Health Africa, Clinton Health Access Initiative, Centre for Health Solutions Kenya, RESOK, KELIN, Stop TB Kenya, and Networks of TB Champions.
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