http://earthsky.org/human-world/progress-in-african-aids-epidemic-not-enough A Clear Voice for Science Fri, 10 Feb 2012 03:57:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://earthsky.org/human-world/progress-in-african-aids-epidemic-not-enough/comment-page-1#comment-4969 jimi2 Wed, 30 Jul 2008 08:53:32 +0000 http://208.96.63.114/?p=4030#comment-4969 <p>Progess is not <span class="caps">NEARLY</span> enough. And it’s not just Aids in Africa. We need to focus much more resources towards dealing with <span class="caps">ALL</span> the <span class="caps">OVERWHELMING</span> problems in Africa.</p> Progess is not NEARLY enough. And it’s not just Aids in Africa. We need to focus much more resources towards dealing with ALL the OVERWHELMING problems in Africa.

]]> http://earthsky.org/human-world/progress-in-african-aids-epidemic-not-enough/comment-page-1#comment-4957 Perry Bolin Sat, 26 Jul 2008 14:01:30 +0000 http://208.96.63.114/?p=4030#comment-4957 <p>I read an article several weeks ago concerning the <span class="caps">AIDS</span> figures in Africa. The writer stated that the figures we see reported are not accurate, and are in fact inflated. It said that the reason for this was that the availability of genuine <span class="caps">AIDS</span> testing in Africa is very limited. Apparently over 70% of <span class="caps">AIDS</span> cases reported in Africa are not <span class="caps">AIDS</span>, but other common and easily treated illnesses such as the common cold or mild infections. According to the writer, most of the clinics which submit their diagnoses, are only equipped with a questionnaire which has a checklist of symptoms consistent with <span class="caps">AIDS</span>. These range from fatigue to headache, malaise, persistent cough etc. Should the patient’s symptoms match several of those on the questionnaire, then often they are given a conclusive diagnosis of <span class="caps">AIDS</span>, although an <span class="caps">AIDS</span> test has not and will not be administered, simply due to a lack of availability. We should be careful of sending other peoples money to causes which are not fully investigated and verified. <span class="caps">AIDS</span> is the most preventable disease on the planet, it is a purely behavioral disease. More money has been spent on the treatment of this result of behavior than on other diseases which affect more of the worlds population and are not a result of behavior. Should we not stand back for a moment and weigh <span class="caps">ALL</span> the data we have before jumping to a rash conclusion?</p> I read an article several weeks ago concerning the AIDS figures in Africa. The writer stated that the figures we see reported are not accurate, and are in fact inflated. It said that the reason for this was that the availability of genuine AIDS testing in Africa is very limited. Apparently over 70% of AIDS cases reported in Africa are not AIDS, but other common and easily treated illnesses such as the common cold or mild infections. According to the writer, most of the clinics which submit their diagnoses, are only equipped with a questionnaire which has a checklist of symptoms consistent with AIDS. These range from fatigue to headache, malaise, persistent cough etc. Should the patient’s symptoms match several of those on the questionnaire, then often they are given a conclusive diagnosis of AIDS, although an AIDS test has not and will not be administered, simply due to a lack of availability.
We should be careful of sending other peoples money to causes which are not fully investigated and verified. AIDS is the most preventable disease on the planet, it is a purely behavioral disease. More money has been spent on the treatment of this result of behavior than on other diseases which affect more of the worlds population and are not a result of behavior. Should we not stand back for a moment and weigh ALL the data we have before jumping to a rash conclusion?

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