World TB day marked in Eldoret
Multi drug resistant TB treatment is now available at Eldoret Moi Teaching and referral hospital. Uasin Gishu district TB coordinator Charles Makwila however said it is very expensive to treat multi resistant TB and the patient is treated on isolation for a period of 2 years. The government has established over 800 diagnostic centers and 2000 treatment centers throughout the country and Uasin Gishu district has 43 treatment centers. However there are 2 cases of multi- drug resistant patients at the Moi Teaching and referral hospital currently on medication. TB is spread by a bacteria known as micro bacteria tuberculosis and is spread through air. Last year alone over 117,000 new cases of TB were diagnosed countrywide in which Uasin Gishu had 3468 patients. The ministry of health has embarked on reaching the people on the grassroot level to educate on the importance of knowing their TB status. Celebrations to mark TB were held on Friday in Uasin Gishu district. Ends….Carolyne Koech