KAMPALA, UGANDA | Health workers and human rights advocates have pledged to enhance the use of innovative digital tools aimed at improving access to treatment and information regarding Tuberculosis (TB) infections in local communities.
The Association of Persons with Disabilities Living with HIV (ADIPHA-Uganda), a non-profit organization based in the Greater Masaka sub-region, is collaborating with regional TB and Leprosy control teams to utilize technology to combat the spread of TB.
Nissy Namuyomba, Programs Officer at ADIPHA-Uganda, announced that they will jointly promote the “OneImpact” digital application, which facilitates timely sharing of TB-related information, community monitoring of patients and suspected cases, and feedback between healthcare providers and patients.
The mobile app features multiple modules that provide straightforward information about TB. It connects patients with care and treatment centers using GPS technology and allows users to report obstacles to accessing care while fostering active communication among affected individuals.
Namuyomba emphasized their goal to encourage widespread downloading and use of the app, enabling community members to regularly share information and report suspected TB cases, which would trigger prompt responses.
She noted that the digital tool, developed by the Stop TB Partnership, addresses existing barriers to TB treatment and management, particularly for persons with disabilities who often encounter various structural challenges.
Currently, ADIPHA-Uganda has deployed 46 peer community monitors across the Greater Masaka sub-region. These monitors will collaborate with technical TB and Leprosy Control coordinators to enhance case reporting and treatment accessibility.
Caroline Namata, Membership Development HIV/TB and Malaria Officer at ADIPHA-Uganda, added that the application is available in both English and Luganda, ensuring effective communication among users.
In addition to working with community monitors, they are also engaging health center leaders in the sub-region, encouraging them to adopt the software to improve patient service delivery.
Namata acknowledged past challenges with medication adherence among TB patients, including those with disabilities, but expressed optimism that the new digital tool will help overcome these issues by promoting experience sharing and timely reporting by community peers.
Dr. Elizabeth Nyirazihaawe, the Greater Masaka Regional Supervisor of the TB and Leprosy Control Program, praised the application as a crucial asset in the national effort to eradicate TB by 2030.
She revealed that the Ministry of Health is interested in the digital tool and plans to evaluate its effectiveness for potential nationwide implementation.
This initiative comes in response to a recent increase in TB cases in the Greater Masaka sub-region, where 361 new patients were reported in just one week.
