It's World Tuberculosis Day on 24 March. John White has lived with HIV and multi-drug resistant TB for six years. He describes his long fight with the hospital where he contracted TB. On page 38 we give you the facts on TB

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celebrated my fifty-sixth birthday in January and, having been diagnosed HIV positive16 years ago at the beginning of 1986 and more recently with multi-drug-resistant TB (MDRTB) almost six years ago in 1996, every birthday is indeed a 'celebration' and truly a 'milestone' in my life.
In a previous article, (Positive Nation April 2000, PN 53) I explained that after my initial diagnosis of HIV I had soon learned that I might indeed have to live with HIV, as opposed to dying from it. I then found I had to apply the same philosophy in coping with MDRTB.
Early on I began work with London Lighthouse as a volunteer in their early days and continued later with them in full-time employment. I was employed in various posts ranging from home care to counselling.
I had remained well living with HIV until, while counselling a client at St Thomas's Hospital in south London, I was exposed to TB, which turned out to be a

John White.
Photo: Gus Cairns

drug-resistant form.
In brief, the details of the case were these.