Health experts emphasize the need for focused efforts to tackle the overlapping challenges of HIV and Tuberculosis (TB) in children.
Despite significant strides in reducing new HIV cases and enhancing treatment accessibility, many children still face the challenges of these diseases. Of particular worry is the impact of TB, which is often exacerbated by the presence of HIV, posing a significant risk to children across the nation.
“TB remains one of the leading causes of mortality among children and targeted interventions are needed to address the intersecting epidemics of HIV and TB and prevent needless suffering and loss of young lives,” Caren Mburu said.
Mburu, a pediatrician and senior technical advisor for adolescent and pediatric services at the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF), underscores the ongoing struggle against TB and HIV among children in the country.
She emphasizes the critical nature of this challenge, calling for continuous attention and collaborative efforts from all relevant stakeholders. Mburu highlights the importance of community engagement to address the underlying causes of transmission effectively.
“We should fight HIV and TB stigma and support our children and adolescents living with HIV in schools and in the community by holding their hands and ensuring they do not face stigma and prejudice and live to their fullest potential,” Mburu said.
The data reveals that over 67,000 children are currently living with HIV, with approximately 4,500 new pediatric infections recorded in 2022.
Mburu emphasizes the importance of comprehensive strategies that encompass education, access to quality healthcare services, and community engagement to combat this trend. She asserts that such measures can help reduce new infections and ensure early detection and treatment for affected children.
Key interventions, according to Mburu, should include expanding access to services like Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT), pediatric HIV testing and treatment, and TB screening and prevention for vulnerable children.
Addressing the stigma and discrimination surrounding HIV and TB is also crucial, she adds, as it often hinders efforts to reach those most in need. By fostering environments of empathy, understanding, and support, affected children and families can be empowered to seek the care they deserve without fear of judgment.
Evelyne Kibuchi, the National Coordinator of Stop TB Partnership Kenya, highlights that 12 percent of TB cases are in children below the age of 15. She expresses concern that this can impact their access to education, particularly since many affected children are likely to be in learning institutions.
Kibuchi notes the challenges involved in diagnosing TB in children, as it requires obtaining sputum samples, which can be difficult for young children who cannot be instructed to cough.
“So the methods that are used to extract the sputum it is very uncomfortable to young children because it means inserting pipes that go through the mouth or the nose to the lungs to pull out that sputum,” she said.
Kibuchi further highlighted that the symptoms of TB in children, such as fever, weight loss, and loss of appetite, often resemble those of other diseases like malaria.
This similarity increases the risk of misdiagnosis, leading to delays in initiating treatment.
Kenya has made commitments to end HIV and AIDS as a public health threat, reduce teenage pregnancies by 2030, and address Gender-Based Violence (GBV), including sexual violence, by 2026.
