KZN researcher on challenges of preventing HIV, TB
Professor Thumbi Ndung’u, who heads up the KwaZulu-Natal Research Institute for Tuberculosis, says while there is no set timeframe - he's optimistic they're edging closer towards finding a successful vaccine against both HIV and Tuberculosis.
The institute had been awarded a R153-million grant by the UK-based Wellcome Trust and the UK Department of International Development for research.
Ndungu says while significant strides have been made in the treatment of both diseases preventing their transmission remains a hurdle.
"Even though we have very good treatments, the treatments that we have are unable to prevent infections. We need something or other modalities - medical interventions - that can prevent people from getting infected with HIV or getting TB in the first place.
"That is what is lacking at the moment. So we need to increase our efforts so that we can develop medical interventions that can prevent infections," he said.
(File photo)