We are committed to ending Tuberculosis - Minister Kasule Lumumba. 

In her speech at the ‘Run to End TB’ marathon at the Ministry of Health headquarters in Kampala, the Minister of General Duties in the office of the Prime Minister Kasule Lumumba said that addressing TB disease requires action by different sectors beyond the Health Ministry and that’s why the Prime Minister’s office has pledged its coordination in this framework.

‘Office of the Prime Minister has committed to mobilize Ministries Departments and Agencies plus private sectors to create awareness ahead of the World Tuberculosis Day’’ she added.

Lumumba also said that starting March 15th, the Health Ministry is going to work hand in hand with the Works and the Kampala &metropolitan Ministry’s together with KCCA to screen, test and educate the public about TB and this will be carried out in Kampala and Lira.

According to Lumumba, this is to be done every year to ensure that the public is safe from this killer disease and called upon the public to be vigilant in looking out for TB patients in their households and villages to help them access medical care adding that this collective effort when embraced will help in the kicking out of this disease out of Uganda.

The Minister of Health Hon. Jane Ruth Aceng who was also excited for organizing the first ever TB marathon in Uganda said in her remarks that, the main aim of this marathon is to create awareness of TB and Leprosy in the country and to also mobilize resources for the construction of a TB patient ward in Iganga hospital.

Runners in this first edition have participated in running 10km, 5km and 2km and all these categories were flagged off by the chief runner who represented the Prime Minister.

According to the Health Minister, the government has invested significantly in strengthening diagnosis and treatment of TB at all health facilities across the country, and lately efforts for acquiring digital x-rays are underway to allow the public to easily get tasted and start on their treatment.

‘’Uganda is one of the high TB burden countries according to the World Health Organization and this makes each of us vulnerable for the disease’’ Aceng added calling upon the public to involve in TB screening to ensure safety of our lives.

In her remarks, the country coordinator Center for Disease Control Dr. Lisa said that, together with their partners they are committed to continue supporting the Health Ministry in the fight against Tuberculosis especially in most vulnerable groups to get the country back on truck.

According to Dr. Lisa, there focus lately is on supporting the introduction of noble screening and diagnostic techniques, reaching and maintaining all people that need TB therapy and also closing the gap among the most vulnerable who include those with HIV/AIDS and also children.

The event was also graced by the presence of the Parliamentary Caucus on TB, UNICEF, CDC, TASO, Infectious Disease Institute amongst others and other activities like screening of TB and other non-communicable diseases were also available for all the participants.

According to the latest statistics from the Ministry of Health Uganda, about 90,000 people are affected by Tuberculosis by the end of a single year with over 200 cases registered on a daily and about 30 Ugandans succumb to the disease by sunset each day.

The World will come together to commemorate the World Tuberculosis Day on March 24th and this year’s celebrations in Uganda under the theme ‘’Invest in Ending TB to Save Lives’’ will be held in Lira city in Northern Uganda.