But even with whole generations being decimated in some nations, Africa's population is projected to grow from 800 million to 2 billion by mid-century, Chamie told Reuters. Prevention, despite numerous programs around the world, is also in its infancy. The use of condoms, the cheapest and most effective form of protection against contracting AIDS by sexual contact, is rare in most regions of the world. Treatment is nearly non-existent in developing nations with the highest infection rates, apart from Brazil, which has a comprehensive health program and has cut its death rate in half during the last decade. In Africa, no more than 10,000 people in advanced stages of the disease are being treated with expensive antiretroviral drugs, AIDS experts say.
Impoverished nations have few basic health services.