World TB Day 2024: Ending TB Together
Every year on March 24th, World TB Day provides an opportunity to raise awareness about the devastating health, social, and economic consequences of tuberculosis (TB) and to step up efforts to end the global TB epidemic. The theme for World TB Day 2024 is "End TB," highlighting the urgent need to accelerate efforts to eliminate TB as a public health threat. In Tharaka Nithi County, Kenya, HopeCore is at the forefront of the fight against TB, collaborating with the county Department of Health Services and Sanitation to support capacity building for Community Health Promoters (CHPs) in all six sub-counties.
Empowering Community Health Promoters
HopeCore's CHP training program equips health promoters with the technical competence to address prevalent health issues, including TB and pneumonia. The curriculum is designed to enhance their ability to make a meaningful impact, covering disease prevention, health promotion strategies, and effective communication skills. CHPs receive bi-monthly training on select topics from HopeCore staff, supplemented by visually appealing flipbooks containing critical health messages. Additionally, HopeCore Community Health Officers and County Community Health Assistants provide support and supervision to CHPs in the field.
Expanding Reach and Impact
Since 2022, HopeCore has trained 547 Community Health Promoters (CHPs) and provided refresher training to 237 CHPs on TB and pneumonia. This year, the training has expanded to Tharaka North, where 187 CHPs were trained in March 2024. These trained CHPs conduct TB screening during household visits, identifying individuals with symptoms and referring them to health facilities for testing. Over the past two years, CHPs from Mwimbi, Muthambi, Chuka, Igambang’ombe, and Tharaka South sub-counties have screened an impressive 73,525 community members and referred 1307 individuals with symptoms to facilities for further evaluation and testing. The CHPs also assist in TB contact tracing for individuals and TB treatment defaulters, ensuring comprehensive care for all.
A Collective Effort to End TB
HopeCore's collaboration with the Tharaka Nithi County Department of Health Services and Sanitation underscores the importance of partnerships in the fight against TB. By empowering CHPs with the necessary knowledge and tools, HopeCore is making significant strides towards ending TB in Tharaka Nithi County. In 2023, HopeCore was recognized by the county government for its efforts to end TB, highlighting the impact of its work and its commitment to eradicating this disease. On this World TB Day, let us all commit to working together to end TB and ensure a healthier future for all.
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