Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2006. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
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New Vision (Kampala) - November 17, 2006
Fred Ouma
Prof. Gilbert Bukenya said malnutrition exacerbated co-infection by HIV and TB and this could end lives of people living with HIV/AIDS within months.
Nearly 18 million Ugandans are malnourished, according to the 2001/2002 Uganda demographic Health Survey.
"Nutrition deficiency and the two pathogens are working in tandem to end lives. As we fight TB and HIV, we must also fight the low nutrition issue, which is a result of eating too much carbohydrate.
Joint TB and HIV interventions including nutrition can save lives and must be accelerated," he said.
Bukenya was speaking at the inauguration of the second annual meeting of the Grand Challenge 6 Consortium on Wednesday.
Led by Prof. Stefan Kaufmann of the germany-based Max planck Institute for Infection biology, the consortium is working to find a new TB vaccine that mimics immune response, to give a life-long immune boost.
It consists of 15 partners from Europe, North America and Africa including Makerere University.
This is due to the short term effect of the BCG vaccine given at birth to decrease the severity of the bug that can reactivate years later, if the immune system is weak.
"TB prevention, diagnosis and treatment must become core functions of HIV services. People living with HIV are more vulnerable to TB, even if they're on ARVs," Bukenya said.
Uganda is ranked among the 22 countries with highest TB burden.
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