The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) welcomes the agreement struck by the Clinton Foundation to significantly reduce the price of HIV/AIDS laboratory tests in Africa and the Caribbean, the regions worst-hit by the epidemic. A number of diagnostic companies, including, Bayer, Beckman Coulter, Inc., BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company), bioMérieux and Roche Diagnostics, have cut the costs of their tests by up to 80%, enabling more HIV- positive people to access life-prolonging treatment and care.

The Kenyan survey found a lower HIV prevalence among Kenyans – 6.7% compared to 9.4% estimated by UNAIDS and WHO for 2003. However, when broken down by gender, the survey found an HIV prevalence of 8.7% among women, which is in the same range as the 9.4% prevalence estimated by UNAIDS and WHO. However, it also found an HIV prevalence of 4.5% among men, significantly lower than expected.

As part of the ongoing mobilisation of civil society in the fight against HIV/AIDS, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today met with leaders of some of the world’s leading media organizations to launch a Global Media AIDS Initiative. The Initiative aims to activate media organizations to reach the world’s people – especially youth - with information about how to prevent and treat HIV and to help combat AIDS-related stigma and discrimination.

Today, on Human Rights Day, three UN agencies are launching a colourful, interactive cartoon booklet called “HIV/AIDS Stand Up for Human Rights”. The cartoon is part of a global campaign to tackle HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination and other human rights violations.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and UNAIDS today release a detailed and concrete plan to reach the 3 by 5 target of providing antiretroviral treatment to three million people living with AIDS in developing countries and those in transition by the end of 2005. This is a vital step towards the ultimate goal of providing universal access to AIDS treatment to all those who need it.

UNAIDS strongly welcomes the “Call for Action” made today by the UK Secretary of State for International Development, Hilary Benn, in which the UK pledges to strengthen its political commitment, to improve the way its development assistance is made and to promote greater donor coordination to combat the global AIDS epidemic.

Despite having the highest adult HIV prevalence worldwide at close to 40%, Botswana has managed to mount an effective response to AIDS over the past few years. “Botswana’s growing AIDS movement is the result of President Mogae’s leadership and openness on AIDS coupled with the active involvement of people living with HIV,” said Dr Peter Piot, UNAIDS Executive Director, who was speaking at a World AIDS Day commemoration today. “By breaking the silence on AIDS, President Mogae has not only galvanized the whole African continent, but become a true leader in the global AIDS fight.”

As part of World AIDS Day 2003, cricket teams playing international matches on or around 1 December have committed to wearing red ribbons as a sign of support for the millions of people around the world living with HIV and AIDS.

In recognition of World AIDS Day on 1st December, MTV channels worldwide will premiere global and local programming featuring some of the world’s top artists in the network’s biggest ever commitment to HIV/AIDS awareness, including the premiere of the all-star event 46664 – The Concert in Association with MTV’s Staying Alive. In addition, MTV announced today results of the Staying Alive 2003 Global Sexual Behaviour Study, which surveyed young people in 29 countries about HIV/AIDS and sexual activity.

The global AIDS epidemic shows no signs of abating. Five million people became infected with HIV worldwide and 3 million died this year alone – the highest ever. The findings are featured in “AIDS Epidemic Update 2003,” a comprehensive new report on the global HIV/AIDS epidemic issued today by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the World Health Organization (WHO) in advance of World AIDS Day, commemorated on 1 December.