AIDS in Africa

I initially posted this over in the HEALTH/EDUCATION/SOCIAL POLICY thread but there's not that much action over there. I did receive a couple responses from someone who works in the healthcare field but I am interested in hearing from some laypeople as well. I will provide a link to the original thread. I have also copied my original post below.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=117&topic_id=298&mesg_id=298

I often wonder if the number of AIDS cases in Africa is far overblown. I'm not suggesting that there aren't LOTS of AIDS cases there but when I hear reports saying that 60% or 70% of the people in a particular African country or community are HIV positive I can't help but wonder if those people are all being tested for HIV or if the are receiving what has been referred to as "presumptive diagnosis". I am in no way trying to downplay the extent of the health crisis in Africa. What I am concerned about is whether there are Africans dying of treatable or even curable diseases who aren't getting treatment because they wrongly assume, or are told, that they are infected with HIV and then end up dying because they can't afford antiretroviral drugs--which they might, in fact,not need. When I hear of the staggering numbers of HIV+ Africans I can't help but ask myself, "Are ALL those people REALLY being tested?" And are they given additional tests to confirm the initial "positive" diagnosis. There is such a thing as a "false positive" result with HIV tests and the antibodies that Africans have developed against different native diseases can trigger a false positive on an HIV antibody test. I can't help but wonder if some Africans' illnesses are being lumped together under the AIDS umbrella where it is presumed that there isn't much that can be done for them. Are some Africans dying even more needlessly than others?

:kick: