Photo courtesy of Typically Spanish

World AIDS Campaign

Today, on World AIDS Day, governments around the world are tackling the stigma attached to HIV; trying to create further awareness, celebrate the progress made and  map the continued fight against a killer that knows no boundaries and has no political allegiance.

Governments across the globe pledged Monday to step up the fight against HIV, combating the stigma associated with the disease and promising to bankroll treatment programmes on World AIDS Day.

US President George W. Bush was to announce his administration had already met its goal of treating two million people living with HIV/AIDS by the end of the year, while his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao visited patients with the virus as part of a government effort to fight discrimination.

In South Africa, the country with the highest number of sufferers in the world, the government was mapping out its AIDS strategy under a new health minister as part of a sea-change in attitudes from the ANC government.

South Africans held a moment of silence at midday (1000 GMT) as a mark of respect for victims of the virus which has affected some 5.5 million people.

AFP

Coverage links

Coverage links include USA, Israel, Ireland, Africa, China and Spain coverage:

World AIDS Day 2008: Much accomplished, from CNN.com

Israel marks international AIDS Day, from The Jerusalem Post.

Dundee event marks World Aids Day, from BBC News.

South Africa observes silence for World AIDS Day, from IC Publications

President Hu visits patients on World AIDS DAy, from China Daily.

Leaders to gather to mark World AIDS Day, from Media For Freedom.

World AIDS Day in Spain from Typically Spanish.


Good news

Can HIV Infection Be Prevented with a Once-Daily Pill? from Scientific America.

A Breathtaking Aspiration for AIDS, from The New York Times.

Hopes for AIDS Vaccine Still Alive Despite Setbacks, The Washington Post.