AIDS conference reflects failure to tackle deepening catastrophe

In 2007 2.7 million people became newly infected by HIV. Sub-Saharan Africa remains the most affected region, with 67 percent of the total of HIV/AIDS cases. HIV remains one of the worlds biggest epidemics. In June this year the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) said HIV should be classified as a world disaster and one of the most complex long-term problems facing humanity.

The 17th International AIDS conference took place in Mexico City last week with more than 22,000 delegates in attendance.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon spoke at the opening. As the fight against AIDS nears the end of its third decade, he said, we are still facing a huge shortfall in resources...The responses to HIV and AIDS require long-term and sustained financing.

Executive Director of UNAIDS Peter Piot amplified these remarks. The end of AIDS is nowhere in sight, He said, Every day almost three times as many people become newly infected with HIV as those who start taking antiretroviral therapy...We must categorically reject any attempt to so-called normalize AIDS...there is not too much money going to AIDS but too little.

In spite of the ongoing unfolding catastrophe the conference received little coverage in the mainstream media and the conference itself failed to match the needed urgency.