Helpful book review on 'The Invisible Cure: Africa, the West, and the Fight Against AIDS' by Helen Epstein.

This is a fascinating review of Helen Epstein's work about AIDS in Africa. It, mostly, recounts Epstein's argument, and her condemnation of Western aid agencies. If it were to present other perspectives it might be more useful in understanding the controversies. That doesn't take away from the review's value in motivating this reader to read the book, however. The book itself is just as easy-to-read and compelling as the reviewer says.

The only distraction from an otherwise good review of the situation in Africa is ignoring the widespread heterosexual spread of AIDS in the African-American community in the U.S., which makes me question the accuracy of the statements about Africa that I cannot otherwise verify.

Provides an interesting critique of efforts to stem the spread of HIV in Africa. An implied bias against bureaucratic and activist activities to help stem the scourge of AIDS in Africa slightly diminishes this piece - as does a lack of meaningful suggestions to create the change the author sees as necessary. Long on (seemingly well founded) criticism - short on meaningful suggestions for improving the situation.

A much more even-handed work than most. I do feel the author has bought a little too much into the thesis of the book being discussed, but given the lack of success of what has gone before, that is not really unexpected, since the book at least gives some hope of a useful policy. On the other hand, some of the usual soft bias slips in. Not-so-subtle slap at 'fundamentalists' are really unnecessary as is the 'fundamentalist' identification. There is plenty of blame to go around. It is heartening to see someone so forcefully point out how AIDS has become a huge job machine.

What is never discussed is the fact that AIDS in Africa has absolutely no resemblance to AIDS anywhere else in the world. To be diagnosed with AIDS in Africa, no HIV test is required, nor must HIV be present. An AIDS diagnosis in Africa is based solely on the presence of four symptoms: prolonged diarrhea, persistent cough, prolonged fever, and weight loss in excess of 10% body weight (Bangui definition). Those are the same symptoms of malnutrition, poverty, and other diseases common to Africa such as tuberculosis and malaria. HIV-Positive estimates in Africa are extrapolated from HIV tests on pregnant or post-partum women; however, pregnancy is a major cause of false positive test results. Furthermore, the longest and largest ... More »