WORLD TB DAY 2022

On March 24th 1882, Dr Robert Koch discovered the specific causative agents of deadly infectious diseases including Tuberculosis. The world has thereafter been honoring the German physician’s discovery every 24th of March as World TB day. Tuberculosis is bacterial disease that mainly affects the lungs. Some of the signs and symptoms associated to TB include: Coughing for three or more weeks, coughing up blood or mucus, chest pain, or pain with breathing or coughing, unintentional weight loss, fatigue, fever, night sweats, chills and loss of appetite.

Having one of the best TB clinics in Nairobi County, Ruben Health Centre was graced the honor of hosting the Annual County celebrations. The theme this year was “Invest to End TB. Save lives.” In 2021 Ruben Centre managed to identify 1583 presumptive TB cases. Using sputum for gene expert and chest x-rays, 121 clients were diagnosed with TB. Nationally, the number of TB patients goes upwards of 120,000 annually and accounts for over 18,000 lives lost to the disease. TB is evidently a burdensome ailment not only locally but affects global scene as well.

It gets more taxing in informal settlements such as Mukuru whereby spread of the airborne disease is much easier. Overcrowding, lack of cough etiquette, myths & misconceptions surrounding TB and misdiagnosis by unspecialized medics are some of the factors speeding up the spread of TB in the community. All in all, the celebrations were colorful and the Nairobi Metropolitan Services promised to strengthen the relationship with Ruben Health Centre so as to best serve the people of Mukuru.

Ruben Centre is proud to be an active player in fighting TB and ensuring that the residents of Mukuru have access to high quality health services they need to heal from the disease.

By: Gregory Barake