Workshop on Collaborative Efforts to Combat TB and Respiratory Infections.

The Integrated TB and Respiratory Care in Africa (ITARA) research project has held its kick-off project in Nairobi, with a key stakeholders engagement held on the third day of the workshop.

The event was a significant milestone in KEMRI’s commitment to addressing the critical need for integrated care solutions for Tuberculosis (TB) and chronic respiratory diseases (CRD) across Africa. Led by the Centre for Respiratory Diseases Research (CRDR) at KEMRI and the Imperial College London, ITARA unites partners from Kenya, Tanzania, and Nigeria in a collaborative effort to bridge clinical research with health system and economic insights.

Dr. Veronica Manduku, representing the Ag. Director General, Prof Elijah Songok, warmly welcomed the esteemed participants and partners, noting the unique opportunity to advance healthcare for respiratory diseases across the continent. “Our aim is to develop novel approaches to integrated TB and respiratory care and to understand the health system, health economic, and clinical implications of this,” she emphasized in her opening remarks, reinforcing KEMRI’s leadership and commitment to impactful research.

The meeting underscored the ITARA programme’s objectives and collaborative scope, designed to develop, test, and implement an integrated model for TB and CRD care across partner countries. Site leads and researchers from each region provided insights into the unique challenges and opportunities within their respective health systems. This engagement was vital for outlining roles, discussing research methodologies, and setting out tangible deliverables for the program.

Workshops and breakout sessions offered opportunities for in-depth discussions on methodological approaches, stakeholder engagement, and capacity-building strategies, particularly for PhD students and early-career researchers. ITARA’s mission not only focuses on immediate research outcomes but also emphasizes training and mentoring future leaders in respiratory care research, with plans to host students focusing on clinical, health system, and economic studies related to respiratory health. As Dr. Manduku noted, “we value the importance of engaging stakeholders in research, useful in co-development of research questions and uptake of research products.”

Research scientists part of the project that included, Respiratory Diseases Experts, Prof. Jeremiah Chakaya (Co-lead), Dr. Evans Amukoye and CRDR Scientists, Deputy Director, Dr. Jane Ong’ang’o, Dr. Jackline Kagima and Fred Orina were part of the final day stakeholder breakfast engagement that was also attended by leaders from the Kenya National Tuberculosis Programme, the Clinton Health Access Initiative, and the Centre for Health Solutions.

Participants discussed the current landscape of TB and CRD care in Kenya, along with the critical role of collaboration in ensuring sustainable impact. Following this, ITARA team members reflected on the stakeholder engagement session, identifying additional questions, potential adjustments, and areas for cross-country learning that could further strengthen the programme.

The ITARA kick-off meeting marks the beginning of a journey toward a robust and integrated model for respiratory healthcare across Africa. As we proceed, KEMRI remains dedicated to supporting this initiative and fostering partnerships that contribute to a healthier future for our communities.

The research was funded by the NIHR Global Health using UK International Development Funding from the UK Government to support global health research.

The views expressed in this publication are those of the author(S) and not necessarily those NIHR or the UK Government.