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The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with various partners, is organizing a TB marathon to raise awareness about tuberculosis. The event aimed at increasing public knowledge about the disease, its symptoms, and its impact on Uganda. Funds from the marathon will support the construction of an Isolation Unit at Iganga Hospital.

The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with Uganda Cares, Uganda Stop Tuberculosis, and the AIDS Support Organisation, has organised a Tuberculosis (TB) marathon.

Dr. Stavia Turyahabwe, the Assistant Commissioner of the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Division at the Ministry of Health, stated that the marathon aims to raise awareness among the community. According to Dr. Turyahabwe, this event precedes the national awareness campaign on CAST-TB, which is set to commence in September 2024.

“The marathon is one of the key activities organised by the Ministry to educate the public about the burden of TB, ensuring that the population is aware of the signs, symptoms, and the impact the disease has on lives and the country’s economic status,” she said.

Dr. Turyahabwe addressed journalists during a press conference at the Ministry’s headquarters on August 29, 2024. (Photo by Nancy Nanyonga)

Burden of Disease

Dr. Henry Mwebesa, Director General of Health Services at the Ministry of Health, reported that more than 90,000 Ugandans contract TB annually. Last year, 96,000 cases were diagnosed, with the country losing approximately 30 people daily to the disease.

“TB remains a major cause of ill health and is one of the leading causes of death, particularly among individuals living with HIV,” Dr. Mwebesa said. He added that people living with HIV are at increased risk of death if they do not adhere to their treatment regimens.

Funds raised from the marathon, scheduled for September 1, 2024, will be directed towards constructing an Isolation Unit at Iganga Hospital.

“This is the third TB run, and it serves as a means of mobilising people and raising awareness about the disease. The Ministry wants the community to know that TB services are available free of charge at all health facilities,” he added.

Ministry Interventions

To achieve universal access to TB prevention and treatment, the Ministry, through the National TB and Leprosy Programme, has implemented an approach known as CAST (Community Awareness Screening Testing)-TB.

“CAST-TB was first implemented in 2022 and led to the identification of 100% of the targeted TB patients that year,” Dr. Mwebesa revealed. Since the inception of CAST-TB, over 220,000 new TB cases have been identified.

Lessons learned from this initiative have led to the design of an integrated community awareness screening and testing programme for TB and other diseases. Health workers visit communities to raise awareness, conduct screenings, perform tests, and provide treatment on the spot.

This community-based intervention aims to increase awareness about TB, Leprosy, and other diseases, thereby enhancing the uptake of screening, testing, prevention, and treatment. Patients are linked to care as needed.

During the five-day campaign in September, health workers will go door to door, educating, screening, collecting samples, and testing individuals. If anyone tests positive, they will be immediately linked to care and treatment.

The Ministry has also deployed 17 digital X-ray units for community engagement, ensuring that patients leave the screening centres with knowledge of their status. Additionally, five mobile TB units operate in Kampala, Mbale, and Mbarara, extending outreach to local communities.

TB-Prone Areas

TB-prone areas include bus and taxi parks, prisons, schools, and other crowded locations. Screening and testing hotspots are determined by disease burden, location, and high-risk factors, such as fishing communities and slums.

According to the World Health Organisation, TB is an infectious disease primarily affecting the lungs and is caused by a type of bacteria. It spreads through the air when infected individuals cough, sneeze, or spit. Tuberculosis is both preventable and curable. Each untreated TB patient can transmit the disease to 15 other people in a year.