Samburu TB Project

On Jan. 20, 2005, FHI and U.S. government representatives handed over the keys of a new Landrover vehicle to Samburu Aid in Africa (SAIDIA), a local health nongovernmental organization serving the Samburu people in one of the most remote districts of Kenya. The donated vehicle is part of an initiative with SAIDIA to provide health care to the nomadic Samburu population. The initiative is funded by the U.S. Department for International Development (USAID) and the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief through the IMPACT Project, which is managed by FHI.

The Landrover will be used as a mobile clinic for the diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis (TB), a leading health concern among the Samburu people. The project goal of treating 100 patients by the end of May will be challenging, taking into consideration the rough terrain and far distances needed to travel to reach the intended population.

During the visit to Samburu district, USAID and FHI personnel observed a TB training session for volunteer community outreach workers facilitated by the district's Ministry of Health TB coordinator and SAIDIA staff. The group expects to train 50 outreach workers on the signs and symptoms of TB to help them refer suspected TB carriers for diagnosis and help those on treatment to take their drugs daily. The new Landrover mobile clinic will also provide sputum testing services and deliver drugs.

While the SAIDIA project is only serving a small population of people for TB treatment, the lessons learned in addressing TB among the Samburu population will be invaluable in further implementation of similar programs for other nomadic tribes.

The IMPACT Project is also supporting urban-based TB projects in Nairobi and Mombasa, where 60% of all TB cases in the country can be found. IMPACT is also helping to upgrade Kenya's national TB reference laboratory and to develop programs that link TB diagnosis and treatment with the large number of voluntary counseling and testing for HIV/AIDS (VCT) and comprehensive care facilities that have been established.  

Photo: The Samburu people receive the donation of a new vehicle from USAID and FHI staff. (FHI) View a larger image.