Health experts highlight inadequate diagnostic facilities as major contributor of high burden TB in Uganda

By Ben Musanje

7^th Feb 2024

Health experts have attributed the persistent high burden of Tuberculosis (TB) in most parts of the country to inadequate diagnostic facilities.

Dr Timothy Mwanguzi, a medical officer at the Uganda Case Research Collaboration while addressing health reporters at the media cafe organized by the Health Journalists Network Uganda (HEJNU) at Kamwokya, noted TB patients are still waiting for more than 24 hours to receive results from the existent facilities which is a challenge.

He says that the prevalent TB burden in Uganda is mostly among the improvised and children under 14 years old specifically in areas where there is lack of awareness.

Sylvia Nassozi from the Center for Prevention and Health Services (CPHS) TB Activity Project in USAID expressed their commitment of supporting the government in early detection and treatment linkage through activities like hotspot mapping, contract investigations and contact tracing.

According to the ministry of health, over 91,000 individuals in Uganda contact TB with 32 percent of them being HIV infected, 15 percent of TB cases in the country affect children below 14 years old.

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