SOCIAL PROTECTION FOR TB PATIENTS

Stop TB Partnership and other partners are supporting the Ministry of Health – TB Program in developing a social protection framework for TB patients.

The aim of the framework is to ensure that there are more effective and sustainable policies and programs that will cushion TB patients from the catastrophic socio-economic costs which they incur during and after treatment.

The social protection task force chaired by Stop TB Partnership – Kenya, Chief National Coordinator, Evaline Kibuchi is considering 3 key areas, namely: – medical insurance, cash transfer and nutrition.

Medical insurance for TB patients will ensure that they can access and afford the direct cost of diagnosis, treatment and post-disease care while cash transfer will reduce the burden of indirect costs incurred by TB patients.

“Social protection will alleviate poverty, vulnerability and social exclusion for both TB patients and their households,” says Evaline Kibuchi.

Social protection for TB patients has been seen as one way of demystifying the common belief that TB is a poverty disease. It will also play a major role in restoring the dignity of individuals, households and communities.

For sustainability, the social protection task force is working on ensuring that social protection for TB patients is entrenched in the legal framework.

The social protection framework will also cater for leprosy patients, with a package that addresses their specific needs in the 3 areas of medical insurance, cash transfer and nutrition.