Nairobi, Kenya — The Network of TB Champions Kenya, hosted by KELIN under the COMBAT DR-TB Project, today convened a specialized Community Engagement (COE) meeting at Afya Annex to address key data gaps in Kenya’s National Tuberculosis Programme (NTP).
While the World Health Organization’s (WHO) End TB Strategy and 2023 Guidance emphasize the critical role of civil society and community organizations in fighting TB, these contributions are not yet systematically captured in Kenya’s routine national health data. Today’s convening marks a major step forward in establishing a formal mechanism to advocate for the routine adoption and integration of WHO Civil Society Engagement Indicators.
The half-day session brought together a multi-sectoral group of stakeholders, including representatives from the Ministry of Health, the National Tuberculosis Programme, county TB coordinators, civil society organizations, technical partners, and individuals directly affected by TB.
During the meeting, participants evaluated current data collection entry points, formally established the Community Engagement (COE) structure, and drafted initial Terms of Reference (ToR) and leadership frameworks. Additionally, attendees mapped out an actionable advocacy roadmap aimed at ensuring community-led efforts are formally measured and recognized within national monitoring systems.
Through coordinated governance and targeted advocacy, this initiative aims to create a more accurate, inclusive, and responsive TB data ecosystem in Kenya.
