Scientists fail to research HIV/AIDS in Africa

The latest issue of the British Medical Journal (BMJ) says the scientific community is largely ignoring the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Africa. This edition, which is devoted to Africa and the continent's health challenges, reported that from 1987 until 2004 only 77 studies on HIV/AIDS were undertaken in Africa south of the Sahara. According to guest editors Jimmy Volmink and Lola Dare, this confirms the perception that despite having the highest prevalence of HIV/AIDS, Africa is not being researched sufficiently. Volmink and Dare do not know whether this omission should be attributed to "lack of research capacity or the prevailing political, social, and economic conditions in these countries", but warn that "whatever the reasons, the dearth of research done in Africa for Africa is untenable". The authors added that "inequalities in health research contribute to inequalities in health", and "if science is to live up to its promise to improve health and spur development, all countries should be able to participate in research". For the full issue see http://bmj.bmjjournals.com