Kenya launches world’s first child-friendly TB drug

Sister Veronicah Wanjiru displays a message at the Mbungoni Catholic Clinic in Mombasa on February 26, 2016 that calls for the fight against TB. Kenya has launched child-friendly TB drugs. FILE PHOTO | JOSEPH KANYI | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • The government spends about Sh2 billion annually to treat TB in Kenya.
  • About 7,000 children are currently infected with TB in the country.

Kenya has become the first country in the world to launch new child-friendly medicines for treating tuberculosis (TB).

The drugs are strawberry-flavoured and dissolve in water to make it easier for children to swallow them.

The number of tablets given to children has also been reduced by half, from eight to four pills daily.

The Ministry of Health said the new drugs, to be rolled out countrywide by October 1, will be given to children depending on the child's weight.

About 7,000 children in the country have TB.

The flavoured regimen, known as a "fixed dose combination", will be available for free at all health facilities countrywide.

The Kenyan government spends about Sh2 billion annually to treat TB.