Responses with strong political support across all planning and social sectors are increasing. Financial resources are now being made available at increased rates within affected countries, from bilateral and multilateral development agencies and the commercial and foundation sectors and through debt-relief efforts. In addition, new communications capabilities, such as the Internet, are enabling partners to interact and access information at a pace unimagined even a decade ago. The basic lesson learned for any national AIDS plan is that interventions to reduce HIV risk and change behavior are effective when a range of government ministries and partners in the social, economic and health sectors are involved in providing an enabling environment for large-scale prevention, care and support programs. Single, isolated activities do not yield sustained results.
Effective programs require focused action and steadily expanding coverage.
Prevention Works Intensive information and education programs are essential to reduce the risk of sexual transmission in the general population and to help promote safer sexual behavior, for example through abstinence, fidelity and condom use. The social marketing of both male and female condoms increases their accessibility, although condoms will need to become available on a much larger scale in many countries. Pilot projects target limited numbers of women and their unborn infants but have a huge potential for expansion. Voluntary HIV counselling and testing, at present available only to a tiny proportion of sub-Saharan African men and women, serves as a critical entry point for HIV care and prevention, with huge potential for accelerating the response. To meet it, a comprehensive approach to care must be adopted.