By Byamukama Alozious (HEJNU member)
The Minister of Health for State General Duties, Hon. Hanifa Kawooya Bangirana, has called for increased focus on tuberculosis (TB) and leprosy prevention and increased digitalization of patient data.
Speaking at the 7th Annual Tuberculosis and Leprosy Conference, the Minister emphasized the need for preventive measures to reduce the burden of TB in Uganda.
“While we invest heavily in building hospitals and health centers, focusing on prevention can significantly reduce costs spent on purchasing drugs. Tuberculosis is preventable, and that message must reach every Ugandan,” said Kawooya.
Uganda remains one of the 30 countries with the highest HIV/TB burden globally. Kawooya stressed the importance of involving communities, communicators, and stakeholders in combating TB and leprosy.
She also highlighted the significance of digitalizing patient data, not just for record-keeping but to improve dissemination while ensuring patient safety.
Progress and Challenges in Uganda’s TB Fight
Dr. Lubanga Augustine, National Medical Director of AHF Uganda Cares, noted that while Uganda has made strides in fighting TB, the disease remains a significant public health challenge.
In 2023, Uganda recorded 96,000 new TB cases, with 84,000 diagnosed and started on treatment, reflecting a treatment coverage rate of 90%. Among these patients, 37% were co-infected with HIV, with 97% of them also initiating antiretroviral therapy (ART).
Dr. Lubanga called for greater collaboration, urging the inclusion of sectors like education. “We need the Ministry of Education to ensure students showing symptoms such as persistent coughing are evaluated for TB,” he stated. He also highlighted predisposing factors, such as poor housing, that need to be addressed.
Addressing Gender Disparities and Contact Tracing
Dr. Henry Luzze, Acting Head of Uganda’s National TB Program, reported that men are disproportionately affected by TB, likely due to social behaviors like spending more time in public gatherings. He urged households with coughing members to prioritize TB screening.
Luzze highlighted a treatment success rate of 92%, although 7% of TB patients succumb to the disease.
Uganda has made significant strides in contact tracing, screening over 450,000 individuals linked to TB cases. Of these, 20% were presumed to have TB, with 10% confirmed to have the disease. Efforts to provide TB preventive therapy (TPT) have also shown progress, with 84% of eligible people living with HIV (PLHIV) starting TPT. Among child contacts under five years, 75.3% were initiated on TPT, and 80.4% of older contacts received the therapy.
While Uganda has seen a decline in leprosy cases—from 489 in 2022/23 to 307 in 2023/24—child notifications remain high at 15%, indicating continued transmission. Cases of Grade II disability have dropped from 19.5% to 10.5%, though the rates remain concerning.
Kawooya concluded with a call for accountability and strong leadership in managing health resources. “We must account not only for government resources but also donor funds. Good leadership and transparency are crucial to achieving our goals,” she said.
The conference, themed around advancing multisectoral and multistakeholder engagement, aims to accelerate efforts to end TB and achieve zero leprosy in Uganda by 2030.