Dr Ann Duerr and others fighting against AIDS and other illnessess

I read about the rise in deaths and complications or serious illnessess due to infectious deceases everyday. However to be told that I have active tuberculosis is another thing altogether. Though tuberculosis is treatable these days one must be diligent in taking the medications to prevent the TB from becoming drug resistant and very much harder to treat.

I read that the risk factors for acquiring TB include close-contact situations, alcohol and IV drug abuse, and certain diseases for example, (diabetes, cancer, and HIV) and occupations (for example, health-care workers). I am none of those and have not been in contact with any persons in these categories. I am a housewife who is home most of the time!

I thought TB was an “old” illness and we were vaccinated against it. I have sought another opinion and did further x-rays and I do not think I have TB. Still, it has been a nasty shock and I realise that I must not take my health for granted.

It has made me aware of the importance of our own health and well being.

However as I read more, I become more depressed. Reading about cancer and HIV makes me feel down. My own mother died of cancer 30 years ago. Now 30 years on we have not found any cure and people are still dying. Surely, in this time and age, surely we should be able to find a cure for all these illnesses?

Fortunately there are people like Dr Ann Duerr who is an advocate in the area of public health concerns in the developing world. It makes me comforted to know that there are people working very hard in these areas of medicine and research.

Dr Ann Duerr is with HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN). HVTN is an international network of research scientists, communities and industry representatives who are working together with governments to test and develop a HIV vaccine.

Dr Ann Duerr ‘s work has contributed and continues to contribute significantly to the fight against HIV. She has many published works on the biological as well as the epidemiological determinants of HIV transmission.

Yes, it is indeed reassuring to know that there are many people working hard to fight AIDS as well as other infectious illnessess.