Africa or AIDS?
Jacobsen, K.
Ugeskrift for Laeger 149(33): 2236-2237
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0041-5782 PMID: 3450041 Document Number: 361533
Medical aid from the industrialized countries is often not well adapted to the problems of combating acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in Africa. AIDS research in Africa has been marked by a colonial attitude on the part of researchers which has led to the development of a complex situation in cooperation between industrialized and developing countries. The need for small, simple epidemiological field studies can be met by small groups of experienced health personnel who are familiar with the local conditions. Foreign medical workers must also be sensitive to the situation in which they are competing with local medical personnel instead of cooperating with them. There is a tendency for aid from the industrialized countries to come in the form of development projects, but these are seldom successful in isolation. Among the important questions still to be answered is whether or not human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected children should be vaccinated. 4 principles should be followed in planning AIDS help to developing countries: 1) exact detailing of available knowledge; 2) greater continuity and cooperation between donors and research institutions and health authorities and institutions of the developing country; 3) better coordination of resources among industrial countries; 4) integration of AIDS work in the total health policy of developing countries.