1. World AIDS Day December 1st

2. Global HIV and AIDS statistics 2010 People living with HIV/ AIDS in 201034 Million Proportion of Adult Women living with HIV/ AIDS in 2010 50% Children living with HIV/AIDS in 20103.4 million People newly infected with HIV in 20102.7 million Children newly infected with HIV in 2010390,000 AIDS deaths in 20101.8 million The latest statistics of the global HIV and AIDS epidemic were published by UNAIDS, WHO and UNICEF in November 2011, and refer to the end of 2010HIV AIDS

3. HIV and AIDS epidemic in Africa The african continent is probably the most affected by HIV and AIDS with sub-Saharan Africa being the worst affected region. The response to HIV and AIDS in Africa is hampered by weak economies and political unrest which have seen countries like Zimbabwe fail to respond appropriately to the epidemic. A few countries such as Botswana and South Africa have stepped up their responses to HIV and AIDS and are now serving as examples for other African countries. Although North Africa has not been as heavily affected by HIV and AIDS as Southern Africa, countries like Nigeria (home to 10 percent of people living with HIV) are a cause for concern because of poor responses over the past few years. Francophone african countries are also notably lagging in terms of reaching targets for universal access.

4. UNAIDS report on Global AIDS epidemic 2010 HIV/AIDS is a major public health concern and cause of death in many parts of Africa. Although Africa is home to about 14.5% of the world's population, it is estimated to be home to 69% of all people living with HIV and to 72% of all AIDS deaths in 2009. [1] HIVAIDSAfrica [1] Southern Africa is the worst affected region of Africa, as well as the worst affected region in the world, with the epidemic reaching very high levels in Swaziland, Botswana, Lesotho, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Namibia. [2] Southern AfricaSwazilandBotswanaLesothoSouth AfricaZimbabweZambiaNamibia [2]

5. UNICEF’s Approach to HIV/ AIDS prevention Great progress has been made in the fight against HIV/AIDS. The past decade saw a 15% reduction in new infections and a 22% decline in AIDS-related deaths. But children are still falling through the gaps. Every day, 1,000 children are newly infected with HIV—this is completely preventable. Only 23% of children living with HIV/AIDS are receiving the necessary treatment. In response to this, UNICEF and the global community made the commitment to achieve an AIDS-free generation by 2015. We now have the tools and the know- how to make this objective a reality. UNICEF has identified three goals that will fulfill the promise of an AIDs-free generation: Reduce new HIV infections among children by 90%, especially by eliminating mother- to-child transmission Reduce new infections among adolescents and young people by half Provide treatment and support for all children and adolescents affected by and living with HIV/AIDS

6. UNICEF updates… November 28, 2012 On World AIDS Day, More Pregnant Women and Children Must Get Treatment On World AIDS Day, More Pregnant Women and Children Must Get Treatment New HIV infections in children are down, but reaching the goal of an AIDS-free generation requires treating more pregnant women and children living with HIV, UNICEF said today. Thanks to remarkable global commitment, the world has seen a 24% reduction in new HIV infections in children—from 430,000 in 2009 to 330,000 in 2011. Approximately 100,000 more children received antiretroviral treatment in 2011 than the previous year. Despite this progress, less than 1/3 of children and pregnant women are receiving the treatment they need.

7. UNICEF updates… September 14, 2012 Mothers' Support Group in Tanzania Works to Prevent Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV Mothers' Support Group in Tanzania Works to Prevent Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV A group of HIV-infected mothers and their partners have formed a mothers’ support group in the United Republic of Tanzania. Members of the group give psychosocial support to one another and help HIV-positive women follow up with their medical check-ups and treatment. The group also provides information to the community about preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV. The group provides its services through home visit, and it has formed an innovative drama group. Through role play, the drama group encourages HIV testing and counseling.

8. UNICEF updates… August 22, 2012 In Ethiopia, More HIV-Positive Mothers Deliver Babies Free of the Virus In Ethiopia, More HIV-Positive Mothers Deliver Babies Free of the Virus UNICEF is supporting the Ethiopian government’s accelerated plan to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV. When a pregnant woman comes to a health center that is part of this program, she will automatically get tested for HIV. If necessary, she—and her newborn—will receive prophylactic medicine. These interventions, free of charge, should ensure that a baby does not contract HIV from an infected mother. The health centers also have ‘mother-to-mother support groups’ that provide counseling services for mothers discovering their status.

9. Cost of Treatment Over the past decade activist pressure, the emergence of competition from generic manufacturers, and direct negotiation with pharmaceutical companies have all contributed to a dramatic drop in the price of certain drugs to treat HIV and AIDS in developing countries.HIV The availability of cheap antiretroviral drugs has been instrumental in treatment scale-up for resource-poor settings hard hit by the AIDS epidemic. Around 6.64 million people in low- and middle-income countries are currently receiving drugs to treat HIV/AIDS. 1 This would simply not have been possible without a reduction in the price of antiretrovirals drugs (ARVs).AIDS 1 Despite significant advances, a number of problems related to the price of HIV drugs remain. Not all drugs to treat HIV and AIDS are available at a suitably cheap price for poor countries, meaning that many of the newer, more effective drugs are only available in the West. This page looks at how the initial price reductions were achieved and the problems that many developing countries still face in accessing cheap, appropriate antiretrovirals.

10. Generic Antiretrovirals In 1996, HAART - an effective combination therapy that delays the onset of AIDS - became available to those living with HIV in rich countries. 2 Within four years, death rates for people with HIV/AIDS in developed countries had dropped by 84 percent. 3 2 3 At a cost of US$10,000-15,000 per person per year, these antiretroviral drugs were far too expensive for the majority of people infected with HIV in resource poor countries. Five years after HAART was introduced in the West, only 2 percent of people in developing countries were receiving the life-saving drugs. 4 In order for treatment to reach people living with HIV in the developing world, the price of the drugs clearly needed to come down to an affordable level.antiretroviral drugs 4 At the beginning of the new millennium there was a breakthrough in treatment provision for resource poor areas when an Indian pharmaceutical company started to produce generic antiretrovirals that were exactly the same as those made by large pharmaceutical companies, but significantly cheaper. This sparked a price war between branded and generic drug makers, which forced the large pharmaceutical companies to lower the price of their AIDS drugs. This competition, coupled with pressure from activists, organisations - such as the Clinton Foundation - and governments of poor countries with severe AIDS epidemics, dramatically reduced the price of ARVs for developing countries. By the middle of 2001, triple combination therapy was available from Indian generic manufacturers for as little as $295 per person per year. 5triple combination therapy 5

11. The NAMES Project The Mission of The NAMES Project Foundation To preserve, care for, and use the AIDS Memorial Quilt to foster healing, heighten awareness, and inspire action in the struggle against HIV and AIDS. Goals Through programs and activities of The AIDS Memorial Quilt, The NAMES Project Foundation endeavors to: * Provide a creative means for remembrance and healing. * Effectively illustrate the enormity of the AIDS epidemic. * Increase the general public’s awareness of HIV and AIDS. * Assist others with HIV infection-prevention education. * Raise funds for community-based AIDS service organizations................................

12. The NAMES Project As The Quilt grew, so did its mission. The Quilt quickly became a vehicle to visually illustrate the numbers lost to the AIDS epidemic as well as a tool to bring names to statistics, to humanize the devastation and threat of AIDS. As it brought public attention to the epidemic, The Quilt began to sway government policy and funding decisions, and became a means to unify a generation in the struggle against AIDS.

13. Block with Two Brothers, Kenny and Joey

14. Reflection on Article from Christian Science Monitor…

15. Reflection on We Are Together