TB patients to be digitally monitored in Kalangala

Samuel Nkuba
Journalist @New Vision
Jul 29, 2022

HEALTH | KALANGALA | SICKLE CELLS 

Patients with tuberculosis in Kalangala district have been introduced to a digital tool that will help them keep track of their medication and access necessary information primarily counseling.

The One Impact digital monitoring application was created to streamline patient and health assistants' communication, follow-up of TB patients on treatment, and patient direction when necessary.

The Kalangala District Health Officer, Hilary Bitakalamire, stated that there has always been a monitoring gap for TB patients who exit treatment, primarily in extremely remote Islands.

"The Government of Uganda has given us enough drugs to treat TB, but we have a clear system where we monitor patients with HIV/AIDS, but there has been a dearth of funding," said Bitakalamire.

According to statistics, TB patients have increased in Kalangala. In the year 2020, testing discovered 200 patients and this year, over 300 people tested positive for TB.
Eric Sserumanga the district TB supervisor said that 60% of HIV?AIDs are also infected with TB.

"HIV/AIDs patients are at high risk of being infected. This calls for intervention as the one being launched to disseminate information to clients in far distant Islands concerning the treatment and care to prevent it," said Sserumaga.

Joseph Kayiira, the team leader at Philomera Hope Foundation said that the app has been designed in varsity languages to enable islanders to select any of their choices.

"The only challenge will be the unreliable network in some islands where our clients base; however, we have engaged VHTs to enable a smooth floor of information within their localities," Kayiira added.

Uganda has a goal of ending TB by the year 2030. The application is one of the modules cited to fulfill this goal. Kalangala also has the highest HIV/AIDs prevalence rate standing at 18% which makes it more exposed to the spread of TB.

The application can serve different categories of people including VHTs, NGOs, Concerned Citizens, TB clients, and Health workers among others.

This will also avail feedback towards data entrants in the health department of the Kalangala district.

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