afrol News, 4 December - Tuberculosis has become not only a major killer disease in Kenya but also a major burden on the country's health budget. With an annual total cases of 115, 234 cases, TB kills 70 Kenyans daily.

The East African country is one of the 22 high TB burden countries contributing 50% of the world's cases. TB has threatened the Kenyan government, which is why it plans to declare it a national disaster so that more funds will be allocated for programmes geared towards fighting the spread of the disease in the country.

A report on the impact of the disease was submitted to the cabinet by the health ministry officials. The cabinet is expected to officially declare TB a national disaster. In that, emergency procedures will be necessary in tackling the disease.

Health officials have expressed concern over the increasing spread of different strains of Tuberculosis resistant drugs, which represent 4% of the cases.

About 300,000 Kenyans are infected with TB, according to the World Health Organisation.

TB has also posed threats to Uganda where the Medical Technology Company BD and the Geneva-based Foundation for Innovation New Diagnostics are partnering with the government to establish a hi-tech TB diagnostic laboratory.

Studies have discovered that TB remains a major cause of infectious disease mortality
Worldwide. It is responsible for over a million death [2.8%] of global mortality.

By staff writer

© afrol News

Related pages and feature

Current afrol News Top Stories