Two years ago, numerous families in Nakuru County bore the brunt of tuberculosis (TB) as the devolved unit recorded an all-time high of 678 new TB cases, including over 20 cases of drug-resistant TB, which are significantly more difficult and expensive to treat.
It was established that at least one in four patients at the time diagnosed with the disease were also living with HIV, complicating treatment and increasing the risk of poor outcomes.
Despite attaining a remarkable 87 percent treatment success rate, the county found itself grappling with unforeseen challenges in the battle against the disease with patients defaulting treatment midway, delayed diagnosis and a TB-related mortality rate that then stood at 7.57 percent.
These gaps highlighted the urgent need for stronger patient follow-up, faster decision-making, and care that reaches closer to where people live.
