Tororo District Launches Mobile TB Clinic to Boost Screening Efforts

Tororo District is stepping up its fight against tuberculosis with the introduction of a state-of-the-art mobile TB clinic. This initiative, supported by the Ministry of Health, Global Fund, and USAID, aims to overcome the challenge of reaching patients in remote areas.

The mobile unit, housed in a tricycle, features a modern digital X-ray machine capable of screening a person’s chest in just two minutes. If initial screening suggests TB, sputum samples are collected on-site for GeneXpert testing, with results available within two hours, allowing for same-day treatment initiation.

A dedicated mobile team, comprising a clinician, lab technician, radiographer, and counselor, will operate the clinic five days a week. They will target “hotspots” such as markets, landing sites, border crossings like Malaba, schools, and prisons, as well as hard-to-reach areas within the district.

Tororo District faces a significant TB burden, registering over 1,200 cases annually, with many going undetected due to accessibility issues. Officials hope this mobile clinic will increase TB detection rates from the current 70% to 95% and halve TB-related deaths within the next year. The initiative also seeks to combat the stigma surrounding TB, encouraging residents to seek free screening and treatment.

This development aligns with the national goal of ending TB by 2030. Given Tororo’s status as a border district with high population movement, the mobile clinic is expected to play a crucial role in early detection and prevention of TB transmission among various groups, including truck drivers and traders.

Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/hope-as-tororo-gets-mobile-tb-clinic-5634048