The Manyattas are to be converted to Isiolo County Assembly offices. A letter dated 17th March confirmed the change. This is likely to have devastating impact to the TB response in the county and in Kenya at large. This will include development of more cases of the most severe Drug Resistant TB as a result of defaulting as patients will no longer be able to access medication. Isiolo County is already grappling with about 17 cases of Multi Drug Resistant TB (MDRTB). The Manyattas which are located in Isiolo town serve as a treatment site for about 70% of all forms of TB cases in the county.
This move comes just when TB advocates are celebrating a landmark judgment delivered on World TB day outlawing the confinement of TB patients in prison for failing to adhere to treatment. The practice was found to be unlawful and unconstitutional.
Grabbing of the TB Manyatta land is an indication of ignorance on the severity of the TB disease in Isiolo County and a total violation of human rights of TB patients. It denies patients the right to high-quality health care in a dignified environment, as provided for in the TB Patients charter developed by World Health Organization. It also violates their right to the highest attainable standard of health, their right to dignity, as provided for in Articles 43(1) and 28 of the Constitution of Kenya 2010.
The concept of the ‘TB manyatta’ was started by Dr Tonelli, a Catholic Sister, who in 1976 persuaded nomads in Wajir District with TB to construct their dwellings next to her health centre to make it possible to receive supervised drug administration. Patients were admitted for four months and a family member was allowed to stay with the patient in order to provide psychosocial and treatment adherence support. Between 1984 and 1986, the Kenyan Government, in collaboration with the Royal Netherlands Tuberculosis Foundation (KNCV), the Netherlands Development Organization (SNV) and the Foundation of Swiss Civil Servants, started TB manyattas at district hospitals, first in Lodwar and later in Garissa, Hola, Kajiado, Laisamis, Loitokitok, Marsabit, Moyale, North Horr and Wajir. The Isiolo TB Manyatta was opened to offer in and out patients services to TB patients. After the opening of the Isiolo County Referral Hospital some of the services were relocated and the TB Manyatta was left to function as a model isolation site for TB patients in the upper eastern region.
Led by Stop TB Partnership- Kenya and KELIN, concerned TB patients and communities, members of Civil Society Organizations working on Health and Health Rights are asking the County Assembly led by the Speaker of the Isiolo County Assembly to reconsider the move and return the facility to serve the purpose for which it was initially designed.
Kenya joined the rest of the world in a campaign that leads to end TB in Kenya and globally by 2030. “This is the time to consolidate all resources towards this course. It’s not time to take away especially from TB patients”. Says Evaline Kibuchi the National Coordinator, Stop TB Partnership- Kenya.
Kenya is ranked 15th out of the 22 High TB Burden Countries and losses about 60 lives daily to the disease.
For more details contact Evaline Kibuchi; 0722319981 or ekibuchi@stoptbkenya.org/ekibuchi@gmail.com, or essymbugua6@gmail.com; 0704111775
Kelin is an organization that advocates for the promotion and protection of health related human rights for all.
