How is the UN fighting against AIDS epidemic?
Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) has become a health disaster of pandemic proportions, with some 40 million people living with AIDS or the HIV virus that causes it. The epidemic has struck more than 60 million people and is expanding at the rate of 5.3 million new infections a year. It is the fourth leading cause of death worldwide. The Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), which pools the expertise of eight UN agencies and Programmes, is the main advocate for global action. It leads and supports work to prevent the transmission of HIV, reduce the vulnerability of individuals and communities, provide care and support, and alleviate the impact of the epidemic.UNAIDS promotes research, mobilizes support from the private sector and encourages partnerships between governments and the pharmaceuticals industry. It also engages the efforts of major drug companies, which have agreed to make HIV/AIDS treatment and care more affordable in developing countries. In June 2001, at a spec
