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Tuberculosis case finding in a population with high HIV prevalence in western
Kenya
van 't Hoog, A.H.
Publication date
2012
Link to publication
Citation for published version (APA):
van 't Hoog, A. H. (2012). Tuberculosis case finding in a population with high HIV prevalence
in western Kenya.
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Acknowledgements
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ACKnOWlEDGEMEnTS
Many persons contributed to the work presented in this thesis, encouraged me or provided support in other ways, and I consider it an impossible task to list every person whose contribution I value. In particular I would like to thank:
All the staff at the KEMRI/CDC Research and Public Health collaboration in Kisumu and the KEMRI CRDR in Nairobi who contributed to the work presented in this thesis. Especially the tuberculosis prevalence survey was a large and challenging undertaking that would not have been accomplished without the dedication of many. I wish to thank Janet Agaya, Lazarus Odeny, Benson Muchiri, Willie Githui, Helen Meme and everyone in the teams they were heading. Furthermore, I acknowledge the administrative support of Ruth Chumba and later on Benard Owuor, and the dedication to data cleaning of John Hongo. Among persons from the other branches I thank Philip Onyona for his early advise on laboratory equipments, the team of Clement Zeh for processing samples, Josphat Ngesha for assisting with procurement, Maurice Ombok for GIS support, James Kwach and Sewe Maquins for their help with HDSS data, and John Williamson for statistical guidance. I thank Henk van Deutekom for reading X-rays during his vacation.
The study participants for their willingness to participate, the community at large for their trust in the projects, and the Kenya Ministry of Health, in particular the Division of Leprosy Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases for their support at district, provincial and national level.
The persons who facilitated the initiation of the studies and created the opportunity for me to embark on this project: Kevin DeCock, Barbara Marston (who talked me into this), Larry Slutsker, Martien Borgdorff, and also Dick Chaisson for assisting with funding. I thank Kayla Laserson in her role as KEMRI/CDC director for her continuous support of the TB studies at KEMRI/CDC, and Videlis Nduba for his efforts to continue them. I am very grateful to my promoter Martien Borgdorff for his guidance in the writing up of this thesis, and my co-promotor Kayla Laserson for her encouraging comments.
The TB studies kept me for many more years in Kenya than I had ever anticipated. I want to thank many friends and colleagues, the sailors at the ‘Yatch Club’, the yoga girls, Ilona and Barry, and everyone else whom I met over the years, for an unforgettable time and for making me feel at home. Special thanks to Rhoda for her fantastic cooking. I would
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not have furthered my career in epidemiology without the encouragement of Erik to pursue this kind of work, Nathalie’s participation in the distant learning support club, Alie’s enthusiasm to move to Africa in the first place, and the collegiality and friendship of Pauli and Hilde.
In the Netherlands, I want to thank my friends, parents and family for providing mental support and company during the period of writing and ‘reintegration’. I appreciate my colleagues at the KEBB for hosting me during the time I worked there on this thesis, and my new colleagues at AIGHD for providing an interesting Global Health work environment. Special thanks to ‘the former Kisumu Dutch mafia’ for peer support, and to Hanneke for sending encouraging sms’s on ‘weekend thesis days’. Last but not least I want to thank my paranymf’s for accepting to assist me with and on the defense day. To Hermien also my gratitude for allowing me to live in your house, and Mieke, maybe we can exchange roles in the future.
