Prevention does work. The evidence has never been clearer. And, today, we have more options than ever. New tools such as the female condom are now much more widely available to women in developing countries through our negotiation of a public sector pricing deal and through social marketing. Millions are being sold, and used.
Women have more choice.
Countries are now turning these findings into action - a priority, given that last year in Africa alone half a million babies became infected by HIV through maternal transmission. New treatments are postponing disease and prolonging life for thousands of people living with HIV and AIDS in the industrial world, but not for the overwhelming majority of those who need it in the poorer countries. But together with this news of progress, there is news so devastating that few in this room could have predicted or imagined it even 5 years ago. Today, over 33 million people are living with HIV in the world. 16,000 people become infected with HIV every single day including - 5 young people every minute.