09/10/2026
Beyond the Numbers: Strengthening TB Care, One Health Facility at a Time in Bungoma
Behind every tuberculosis statistic is a person, a child who needs an early diagnosis, a parent trying to stay healthy for their family, or a patient depending on the health system for timely, quality care.
This reality is at the heart of an ongoing Integrated Technical Assistance mission by the Division of Tuberculosis and Other Lung Diseases (DTLD) in Bungoma County.
The exercise, which begun on Monday 5 October 2026, brings together national and county teams, Mildmay International Kenya (MIK), a sub-recipient of Amref Health Africa, to assess TB and lung health services, mentor healthcare workers and identify practical solutions to gaps affecting patient care. Bungoma is among five high TB-burden counties targeted by the initiative, alongside Kiambu, Laikipia, West Pokot and Kirinyaga.
Led by Dr. Ahmeddin Omar of the Care Section, the Bungoma team is reviewing services across outpatient departments, laboratories, pharmacies, chest clinics and health records while providing on-the-job mentorship to healthcare workers.
“Technical assistance is not about going to facilities to find faults. It is about sitting with the teams, understanding the realities they face and working together to find solutions that ultimately improve outcomes for people seeking care,” said Dr. Omar.
Early findings reveal both encouraging practices and areas requiring improvement.
At Bungoma County Referral Hospital, 265 TB cases were notified between January and September 2026, with children accounting for 71 cases, or 27%, an encouraging achievement attributed partly to free X-ray services for children, screening in paediatric and maternal and child health departments, and strong clinical leadership.
However, only 27 cases were referred from the community, highlighting the need for stronger engagement of Community Health Promoters and TB champions.
At Webuye Sub-County Hospital, 126 TB cases were notified against a target of 171, while childhood TB accounted for 14.3% of cases. The assessment also identified opportunities to strengthen routine TB screening and improve consistency in recording and reporting.
Friends Lugulu Mission Hospital, meanwhile, notified 56 TB cases against a target of 54, surpassing its case-notification target, although childhood TB detection and community referrals remain areas requiring attention.
For Adano Godana, M&E Technical Officer, reliable data is critical to improving care.
“Good data should tell us where patients are being missed and where services need to improve. We are looking beyond submitted reports to understand what is actually happening at facility level and use that information to guide action,” said Adano.
At Kimilili Sub-County Hospital, for example, 94 TB cases were notified against a target of 162, pointing to the need to strengthen active case finding, community engagement and documentation.
Furthermore, these findings underscore the urgent need for community partners and local health actors to step up efforts in strengthening community engagement, active TB case finding, and facility referrals. On a positive note, contact management is performing moderately well, with an average ratio of one index case referring four contacts to linked health facilities, where eligible individuals are promptly initiated on Tuberculosis Preventive Therapy (TPT).
Importantly, the exercise goes beyond identifying gaps. Healthcare workers are receiving mentorship and on-the-job support, while facility teams and technical officers jointly develop action points to address challenges identified during the visits.
