How Digitisation is Strengthening TB Response and Primary Health Care in Nakuru County
In 2023, many families in Nakuru County continued to struggle with the impact of tuberculosis (TB). The county recorded 678 new TB cases, including over 20 cases of drug-resistant TB, which are significantly more difficult and expensive to treat. Nearly one in four TB patients were also living with HIV, complicating treatment and increasing the risk of poor outcomes.
Despite achieving an impressive 87% treatment success rate, the county continued to face significant challenges, including patients stopping treatment midway, delayed diagnosis, and a TB-related mortality rate of 7.57%. These gaps highlighted the urgent need for stronger patient follow-up, faster decision-making, and care that reaches closer to where people live.
It is against this backdrop that the project “Promoting Patient-Centred Care for Tuberculosis Patients through Digitisation of Facility and Community Data” was launched under the AICS Global Fund 5% TB programme. This week, Nakuru hosted a high-level close-out meeting with key partners, including the National TB Programme, Nakuru County Government, the University of Turin, and the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), to reflect on the initiative’s impact and sustainability.
At the heart of the project was the introduction of Tibu Lite, a simplified digital platform that replaced fragmented paper-based systems with a unified, real-time data solution. With this platform, health workers gained immediate access to patient records, automated SMS follow-up tools, and integrated reporting from Community Health Promoters (CHPs). The result was a faster, more coordinated TB response that improved both facility-level and community-level service delivery.
Over just one year, the project reached 3,342 TB patients, increased TB screening by 36%, and raised the uptake of TB Preventive Therapy (TPT) by 40%. More than 40 healthcare workers were retrained and equipped to manage digital workflows, resulting in increased overall efficiency and accountability across 20 healthcare facilities. Health facilities were also aligned more closely with county-level initiatives, such as the 100-Day Defaulter and Contact Tracing Campaign, which improved case detection and reduced loss to follow-up.
“The Tibu platform has greatly improved early detection and timely treatment for drug-resistant TB cases,” said Joyce Ncece, Chief Officer for Public Health and Sanitation, Nakuru County. “It has empowered our teams to provide more targeted mentorship and make quicker decisions using real-time data.”
“We’ve seen a complete turnaround in how we manage TB screening and reporting,” added Collins Rutoh, Clinical Officer at Bahati Sub-County Hospital. “What used to take several days now takes minutes, and most importantly, our patients are returning for care and completing treatment.”
But the project’s success was not just about technology. A significant investment was made in people. The project delivered hands-on training, sustained mentorship, and regular feedback loops with health workers, ensuring they weren’t only using new systems but were also confident and empowered to deliver better care. Digital literacy challenges were addressed through targeted support, while infrastructure gaps were closed through close collaboration with facility and county leadership.
This holistic approach established a scalable, people-centred model for enhancing Primary Health Care (PHC) through improved data utilisation, skilled health workers, and integrated community engagement.
“This was a proof-of-concept project, but its impact goes far beyond the pilot sites,” said Anne Goretti Munene, Programme Manager – Global Fund Malaria. “It shows that with the right tools, training, and partnerships, counties can lead the transformation of TB care and deliver meaningful improvements in health outcomes.”
As the project is formally transitioned to the Nakuru County Government, it leaves behind a strong foundation for sustainable TB care, anchored in local ownership, equity, and innovation. More importantly, it offers a proven roadmap for how counties across Kenya can strengthen primary health care systems and bring life-saving services closer to the people who need them most.
The Tibu Lite app is now publicly accessible on Google Play, making it easier for county health teams and frontline workers to continue using the platform beyond the pilot phase. This availability ensures broader access, supports decentralised data entry and follow-up, and reinforces the app’s role as a scalable, open-access tool for real-time TB case management across diverse healthcare settings.
Author: Wekesa Noah – Communications Specialist, Amref Health Africa