Background
Globally,, Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major public health problem and is the leading cause of death from a single infectious cause.
The global TB incidence rate and annual number of TB deaths are falling but is far short of the milestone of a 20% reduction between 2015 and 2020. However, the performance varies across the regions and it is worth noting that a total of 46 countries, including high TB burden countries such as Kenya and United Republic of Tanzania, are on track to reach the 2020 milestone (WHO, 2020). Despite current achievements, there is continued high incidence, prevalence, and mortality rates.
A multisectoral, health-in-all-policies approach and a paradigm shift is required to move from focusing on controlling the disease to ending the epidemic. Critical factors for ending the TB epidemic would include strong government stewardship, universal access, reaching vulnerable populations, engagement of civil society and communities and adoption of new technologies (WHO, 2017).