Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2004. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date. 
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Voice of America - July 15, 2004
Cole Mallard
Bangkok
Former South African president Nelson Mandela held a surprise press conference Thursday at the 15th International AIDS Conference in Bangkok. He said it's important to remember the problem of tuberculosis -- or TB -- when dealing with the overwhelming demand for resources to fight HIV/AIDS.
Nelson Mandela's impromptu visit was unannounced when he was introduced in "press conference room a" by Dr. Helene Gayle, an AIDS specialist with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Mr. Mandela says the battle against aids cannot be won unless we fight tuberculosis.
"TB is too often a death sentence for people with aids. It does not have to be this way. We have known how to cure TB for more than 50 years. What we have let [sic] is the will and the resources to quickly diagnose people with TB, and get them the treatment they need," he says.
Mr. Mandela says it's important to keep TB in the limelight, and he expressed gratitude for a recent infusion of money to fight the disease.
"We have also lost ground in the fight against TB in the face of a spreading aids epidemic. That's why the grant that the gates foundation is announcing through the "create consortium" is so critical. I hope that this research will give us new weapons to fight TB in places that have been hard hit by AIDS," he says.
Mr. Mandela himself had TB, and he tells his story, revealing the importance of early diagnosis and treatment.
"I was in jail when they took a specimen of my sputum, and sent it to hospital. I was diagnosed with TB. When the report came back from hospital they indicated that fortunately we sent in the specimen before there were holes in the lung. It would take only about four months to cure the TB, if I treated it correctly. I underwent treatment and was completely cured after four months," he says.
Mr. Mandela also had to deal with another serious health issue. In this story, he emphasizes the need for being honest, open and truthful.
"That was exactly the same with cancer of the prostate. I was diagnosed and informed, and I informed my family about my status. I then called the press and informed them too. Again after undergoing treatment and listening to the advice of my doctors, I was completely cured. In both cases, I spoke about it openly because I knew that once people were aware of the facts they would support me," he says.
Mr. Mandela took the moment to reveal the reward for being honest and upfront when it came to his experience with tuberculosis and cancer of the prostate.
"The press admired me for declaring my status, and I'm convinced that the support of my family, friends and the public in general contributed to my healing process," he says.
The South African statesman said he considers it a "blessing" that the world has made defeating HIV/AIDS a top priority. But he reiterated that it cannot be conquered unless much more is done to fight tuberculosis.
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