More people became infected with HIV and died from AIDS in 2003 than ever before, according to a new report from the United Nations. A few nations are finally beginning to pay attention and are changing their policies to address the rising numbers.
Approximately 5 million people were infected with HIV in 2003, bringing the total number of people with HIV/AIDS to 40 million worldwide, including about 2.5 million children under 15, according to the report. About 3 million people died from AIDS in 2003. The highest numbers were in sub-Saharan Africa, followed by the Asia/Pacific region, primarily India and China.
To combat the epidemic, India says it hopes by April to begin providing free antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) to its patients. By the end of 2004, each of South Africa's 50 health districts would also have at least one center distributing free ARVs, according to that country's government. Both announcements mark major shifts in the nations' AIDS policies.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization's '3 by 5' initiative, which promises to deliver ARVs to 3 million people by 2005, called for countries to train 100,000 workers and treat patients with four combinations of ARVs.
