We'd give money if they had more clocks

December 1, 2003 8:57 AM

"They do not use Western means to tell time. They use the sun. These drugs have to be administered in certain sequences, at certain times during the day. You say, take it at 10 o'clock, they say, what do you mean, 10 o'clock?" They, of course, refers to "Africans" and the above logic from the head of USAID was used an explanation for why it's tough to extend AIDS treatment to Africa. The only problem with this argument is that it's wrong. People with HIV in developing countries are in better compliance with drug regimes than in the US as new research is showing [RealAudio]. As we've seen throughout the epidemic, it's a lot easier to get funding for researchers in lab coats than for actual treatment . . .
posted by donovan (1 comment total)

This is really a poorly constructed FPP. The information is fine, but really the best link is the last one--a 12min radio story (NPR) on the status of AIDS treatment in Uganda specifically, and Africa and the developing world more generally. The story raises--and then debunks--the perspective iluustrated by the controversial statement by the head of the USAID in 2001.

I suspect folks may have clicked on the first link and thought "old news, lousy post" or some such.

But that's to be expected from a FPP that failed to lead with recent material (and would alternatively have led with the recent, but unscannable audio link) and didn't include a stimulating call for discussion. For example, maybe something along the lines of: How have cultural misperceptions shaped the fight against AIDS? Or perhaps, picking up a central theme of the NPR report, a rant: So can we just come clean here? We know how to provide effective treatment for AIDS, but we're just not doing it.

In any event, I do hope this poster has learned some valuable lessons today. I'll refrain from further criticism lest I risk coming off like I'm making an ad hominem attack.
posted by donovan at 9:35 PM on December 1, 2003