World TB Day: Kenko Foundation joins global fight against TB with free screening services

World Tuberculosis Day, observed on 24 March each year, is aimed create public awareness about the global epidemic of tuberculosis and efforts to eliminate the disease. In 2018, 10 million people fell ill with TB, and 1.5 million died from the disease.

It is for this reason a Limbe-Based community organization, Kenko Foundation on Saturday March 24, 2025 joined other part of the world to commemorated World TB Day in Limbe Community Field under the universal theme "Yes! We Can End TB: Commit, Invest, Deliver."

This year's celebration comes amidst uncertainties following USAID's suspension of support to some vital health services.

According to the World Health Organisation estimates, at least 46,000 people in Cameroon develop TB each year and only half of these are screened and treated.

With over 11,000 of all people with TB are also infected with HIV, Cameroon is included in the list for the top 30 TB/HIV high burden countries.

Kenko Foundation was founded in January 2013 and its mission is to promote community health wellness through different programmes designed to contribute to the improvement of health and wellness especially within vulnerable populations.

According to the Executive Director of Kenko Foundation, Ray Nji expressed his gratitude to all who have turned out to join them in celebrating this year's edition of World TB Day.

“We intend to continue raising awareness about the disease and advocating for various stakeholders to come together so we can jointly work to raise awareness and advocate end to TB by 2030.”

“We are grateful to the Stop TB Partnership's Challenge Facility for Civil Society, which has continued to support our work in raising TB awareness and advocating to end the disease” Ray Nji said.

He equally thanked their national partners, including the Ministry of Public Health and the National TB Programme which have all played an important role in making today's celebrations a success.

Kenko Foundation, and its key partners; who include the Ministry of Public Health, the National TB Control Programme, Stop TB Partnership and the United Nations are committed to raising awareness about TB and empowering the public to better deal with the disease.

“Eradicating TB has been a great challenge because not all those who develop TB are treated. It is our joint responsibility to help the government achieve its goal of finding and treating people who develop TB”,

“We also need to continue sensitising the public to prevent stigmatisation of TB patients and encourage those who notice its symptoms to report to the hospitals. These will enable us to achieve the global goal to end TB by 2030." Ray Nji said.

The commemoration was spiced with a football match and free screening of the population who turned out for the event.

BY SIMON NDIVE KALLA

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Cross section of Kenko Foundation management and players

Cross section of Kenko staff