The 2008 Report on the global AIDS epidemic confirms that the world is, at last,
making some real progress in its response to AIDS.
Governments are acting on their promises at the 2006 United Nations High
Level Meeting on HIV/AIDS, to scale up towards universal access to HIV
prevention, treatment, care, and support by 2010. As of 2008, a small number
of countries are already providing universal access to antiretroviral treatment
and to services to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV. Others are well
on the way to doing so. In more and more countries, HIV infection levels are
falling.
But this is only the beginning. Twenty-seven years into the epidemic, AIDS
continues to challenge all of our efforts. Today, for every two people who start
taking antiretroviral drugs, another five become newly infected. Unless we take
urgent steps to intensify HIV prevention we will fail to sustain the gains of the
past few years, and universal access will simply be a noble aspiration.
This 2008 global report is the most comprehensive ever, based on country
inputs with unprecedented scope and detail. It contains valuable information
about what works and why, as well as highlighting the key challenges we face in
our quest to respond effectively to AIDS—now and in the decades to come.
AIDS is a supremely complex issue that demands an unparalleled response
from all sectors of society, worldwide. But as this report shows, it is increasingly
evident that—given the will and given the resources—we can do it.
Dr Peter Piot
UNAIDS Executive Director and
Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations
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