KELIN and Jointed Hands Welfare Organisation deepen their partnership under the Combat DR-TB Project
Figure 1: Jointed Hands Welfare Organization, Zimbabwe and KELIN team representatives during a milestones review meeting – April 2026
28 April 2026 – A KELIN delegation, led by Executive Director, Allan Maleche, travelled to Harare this April for a landmark programmatic review with the Jointed Hands Welfare Organisation (JHWO), a visit that underscored the power of cross-border solidarity in the fight against drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB).
The engagement offered a critical opportunity to assess progress against workplans, exchange community-level learnings, and sharpen the operational lens through which the Combat DR-TB project is being implemented across Zimbabwe. One year into implementation, the partnership is delivering measurable results, and confronting head-on the systemic challenges that continue to put lives at risk.
“Having completed a full year of implementation, it is clear that we have made meaningful milestones. But we must be honest: there is still a long way to go in addressing the deep-rooted barriers that leave people with drug-resistant TB behind in Zimbabwe. This partnership gives us the structure, the data, and the solidarity to go further — together.” — Dr. Donald, Executive Director, Jointed Hands Welfare Organisation
Key highlights from the review
Media amplification: Strategic media partnerships have carried TB stories with dignity and urgency, elevating community voices and compelling wider national action.
Ministry of Health alignment: Strong goodwill from the National TB Programme has enabled targeted capacity building and effective application of the Multisectoral Accountability Framework (MAF).
Community-led monitoring: CLM One Impact data has provided real-time, district-level intelligence — guiding programme decisions and advocacy despite shrinking global funding.
Parliamentary engagement: Field data reached government officials and parliamentarians directly, strengthening the evidence base for improved TB policy and national resource allocation.
Commitments going forward
Multi-sectoral stakeholder convening: A cross-country learning session between Kenya and Zimbabwe is scheduled imminently to share findings and accelerate joint advocacy.
Sustained support for community champions: The project will continue working hand-in-hand with TB survivors and community champions to ensure treatment support is comprehensive, consistent, and that community reporting remains accurate and timely.
Capacity strengthening across the coalition: KELIN reaffirms its commitment to building the institutional and technical capacity of all Combat DR-TB implementing partners, ensuring the coalition grows stronger together.
Overall it is clear that Drug-resistant TB remains one of the most underfunded public health crises of our time. Communities across Zimbabwe and Africa need sustained political will, adequate resources, and meaningful partnership. KELIN remains committed to #Combat DRTB towards a TB-Free Africa and world.
For more information:
Duke Otieno
Project Coordinator – COMBAT DRTB
KELIN
Email: dukeotieno@kelinkenya.org
Yeukai Chiranga
Project Coordinator – COMBAT DRTB
Jointed Hands Welfare Organisation
Email: yeukai@jointedhands.org
