Coast General Hospital. [Photo/The Star]

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Tuberculosis(TB) cases in Mombasa county may soon face a downward trend after an NGO(Kanco) based in the region started training informal service providers who will identify an refer cases of TB in hospitals.

According to  Kanco official Martin Adega, the training will help combat cultural beliefs that have hindered many from seeking proper medical attention.

“Many people don’t seek medical attention from hospitals because of cultural or religious beliefs, or stigmatization,” said Adega.

In October, Kanco mapped out ISPs in Mombasa. Some 192 ISPs were found in the worst-hit zones — Likoni, Mvita, Ganjoni, Nyali, Kisauni, Mlaleo, Changamwe, and Mikindani. Kanco invited 100 ISPs for training, but only 85 showed up. They were trained on how to identify TB patients and refer them to health facilities.

 “We have decided to partner with the ISPs so we can get referrals,” Adega added.

More than 40 percent of TB cases go unreported in the county, according to available data.