The 3 new TB mobile clinics at the Ministry of Health headquarters in Kampala

The National TB and Leprosy control programme’s community systems strengthening for TB recently received 3 new mobile TB clinics, courtesy of Global Fund and Government of Uganda financing. The Ministry of Health’s target is to have the capacity for community TB programming in each region of the country by the end of 2023…

According to the Global Fund, by empowering the communities at risk, lifesaving services reach the most vulnerable, including those marginalized by poverty, stigma, discrimination, or criminalization. The Global Fund’s Strategy for 2023-2038 prioritizes investments in long-term, tailored capacity building of community-led and community-based organizations, networks, and groups, in order to strengthen links and improve service continuity between community-led activities and formal health care provision. 

According to the World Health Organization, effective community and patient involvement yields positive results, such as improved case-finding and treatment outcomes, raised awareness concerning the nature of the disease and the availability of effective treatment free of charge, or general health promotion. 

Effective partnerships between health services and the community may facilitate access by bringing services to people’s homes, and reducing the cost of care-seeking for patients and health services as well as the cost of workload for staff. Carefully designed community and/or patient involvement initiatives also facilitate patient and community empowerment. Through the involvement of local communities, education on relevant health issues, and stimulation of change in health-related behavior, communities become increasingly knowledgeable and self-reliant.

Meanwhile, in a related happening, the Inter-religious Council (IRC) of Uganda and board members led by the Board chair, Monsignor Charles Kasibante recently involved in an engagement with the National TB and Leprosy Programme to deliberate on strategies to end TB and Leprosy.  The NTLP was led by Dr. Stavia Turyahabwe who highlighted the key role that religious leaders have played in mobilizing people and communities toward accessing TB and Leprosy medical services in the bid to curb and end the diseases. The Inter-religious Council of Uganda Board chair, Monsignor Kasibante appreciated the Ministry of Health for the great work done to end the Ebola and COVID-19 outbreaks. He appreciated the Ministry of Health for involving them as a community and the people that they represent in order to effectively fight diseases.  The Inter-religious Council of Uganda team pledged to advance the message of encouraging good health practices. The team also offered to establish structures that will strengthen the fight against TB and Leprosy in Uganda.