I will never read "Africa" and not roll my eyes. The trials are set to take place in literally just two countries! Every single use of the word seems to perpetuate the stereotype that the entire continent is ravished by famine and disease.
I must say that before I went to the U.S., I didn't consciously identify as African. But in the U.S., whenever Africa came up, people turned to me. Never mind that I knew nothing about places like Namibia. But I did come to embrace this new identity, and in many ways I think of myself now as African. Although I still get quite irritable when Africa is referred to as a country, the most recent example being my otherwise wonderful flight from Lagos two days ago, in which there was an announcement on the Virgin flight about the charity work in "India, Africa and other countries."
[0] https://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_ngozi_adichie_the_dange...
You're gonna have a hard time assuming things about Africans as a group regardless of your stance
My impression is exactly the opposite. We don't even like our countries that much, LOL. Tribal affiliations run strong. Sorry.
EDIT: I've always felt that the "African" identity is pushed by non-Africans looking from an outsider's perspective, and our own social/political elite trying to reshape the post-colonial continent.
It also fits the context. Countries with the most cases are Russia and almost all countries in Africa (except for the North). So Africa as a continent is in need of a HIV cure.
It also contains some of the most diverse individual countries in the world, like Nigeria.
I read the title about Africa as a positive announcement for the whole continent.