Ntungamo, 27 March 2019 – Uganda commemorated World Tuberculosis Day under the theme, "It Is Time for Uganda to End TB”, and the slogan, “It Starts With Me" at a national function at Ruhama sub-county grounds in Ntungamo District.

The Minister of State for Health in Charge of Primary Health Care, Dr Joyce Moriku, presided over the commemoration at which she called for a strengthened multisector approach and accountability framework in the country for a coordinated TB response. She particularly stressed the need for sustained advocacy and increased awareness creation to generate demand for TB services in the country.

Fortunately, to enhance TB diagnosis, the country has procured and strategically distributed 249 Gene Xpert machines to 227 health facilities throughout the country. The government has also availed free TB treatment for drug-sensitive and drug-resistant TB of 6 and 12 months, respectively. These shortened regiments should encourage patients to adhere to the treatment schedule.

However, Uganda remains one of the 30-high burden TB/HIV countries in the world. According to the National Population-based, TB Disease Prevalence Survey conducted between 2014–15, the prevalence of TB was 253 cases for every 100 000 people. The threat of multi-drug-resistant TB is very high since the country reports only 26% of the estimated multi-drug-resistant TB cases. For example in 2017, only 489 multi-drug-resistant TB cases of the estimated 1 900 were detected.

In such a situation, community involvement in TB activities is paramount. “Engage people with TB disease to take responsibility on infection control to prevent the spread of TB in the community”, Dr Moriku recommended. She thus emphasized the critical role of community involvement in disease prevention coupled with sufficient and sustainable financing to address the TB burden in the country.

Similarly, Dr Kaggwa Mugagga who represented the World Health Organization (WHO) at the event, reminded the audience that TB remains a major challenge to development, causes untold human suffering and threatens the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. He referred to 2018 WHO Global Report which indicates, that between 2013 and 2017, the WHO African Region was second highest among all WHO regions with the TB burden. In the WHO African region, Uganda is among the high-burden countries.

Therefore, Dr Kaggwa reiterated the WHO commitment to support the country end TB by 2030, “or even earlier”.

The (former) Woman Member of Parliament for Rukungiri, Winfred Masiko, who spoke on behalf of the Parliamentary Forum on TB, challenged the government to provide more support in the fight against TB. She pledged the Parliament’s support to tackle the TB scourge in the country and rallied all government agencies and partners to support the struggle to eliminate TB.

At the same function, selected districts were recognized for presenting the best TB notification rates and treatment success. These included Amuria, Budaka, Bukedea, Kiryandongo, Kyenjojo, Kyotera, Otuke, Pakwach, Rukiga, Sembabule and Serere. In addition, individuals who have made exceptional contributions in the fight against TB were awarded certificates and plaques. In recognition of the role of patients in the fight against multi-drug-resistant TB, certificates were awarded to former multi-drug-resistant patients who had successfully completed their multi-drug-resistant TB treatment from Kabaale and Mbarara Regional Referral Hospitals.