Homa Bay County has intensified its efforts to tackle tuberculosis (TB), urging residents to undergo screening and complete treatment to prevent the spread of drug-resistant strains. The county faces significant challenges in TB treatment, particularly among the fishing community, where interruptions in medication increase the risk of developing resistant strains.
As a result, Homa Bay remains the only county in the Western region handling drug-resistant TB cases. In response, the county has strengthened its fight against TB and HIV/AIDS through a strategic partnership with the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Kenya. This collaboration was formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) under a government-to-government funding mechanism aimed at fostering self-reliance in disease management. Homa Bay is the first county in Kenya to receive this support model, which seeks to build a self-sufficient community with reduced dependency on foreign aid.
The impact of such partnerships has been evident in the reduction of HIV/AIDS prevalence, which declined from 26% in 2013 to 10.1% in 2025. TB remains the leading cause of illness and death in the county, prompting an increased focus on screening and treatment.
In the past year, the county identified and treated 3,358 TB patients, including 363 children aged 0-14 years. Notably, men accounted for 53% (1,760 cases) of the total TB patients, prompting a call for more targeted screening among them.
As part of its intensified efforts, the county recently launched the TB Strategic Operational Framework 2023-2028. This initiative aims to strengthen TB case detection, improve treatment quality, and enhance care interventions. Encouragingly, drug-resistant TB cases have declined since 2021, with only nine cases recorded last year, a development attributed to improved treatment strategies.
Despite this progress, undiagnosed TB cases remain a major challenge, contributing to the continued spread of the disease. Addressing this issue requires a collective approach, emphasizing that TB elimination is a shared responsibility.
The county has adopted a multisectoral approach, recognizing the need for collaboration in case detection and resource mobilization. Without adequate resources, the fight against TB and other infectious diseases remains difficult. To enhance detection, active case-finding efforts have been intensified across all health facilities, ensuring that screening is available to all patients regardless of their reason for seeking healthcare.
Additionally, Homa Bay County provides free TB treatment across its 207 health facilities, including public, faith-based, and select private hospitals. These services are supported by collaborative interventions to ensure widespread accessibility.
The county remains committed to improving TB and HIV/AIDS management through early diagnosis, quality treatment, and sustained partnerships. With continued efforts, Homa Bay aims to build a healthier community by effectively controlling and ultimately eliminating TB.
