MIN/Sp/AU/CAMH3/6 HIV/AIDS Page 4 2. INTRODUCTION As of December 2007, UNAIDS and WHO estimated over 33 million people were living with HIV worldwide—of which about two-thirds live in African countries south of the Sahara. In addition, an estimated 2.5 million people were newly infected in 2007, and 2.1 million died of AIDS. 1 The numbers for northern African countries are still low although slowly increasing. In 2001, the United Nations convened a special session on HIV/AIDS (UNGASS) and has agreed to a set of global targets in response to the growing public health threat against all nations, particularly in middle and low income countries 2 . In 2006, at the second United Nations General Assembly High Level Meeting on HIV/AIDS, the world leaders committed their nations to work towards the goal of “universal access” for comprehensive HIV prevention, care, treatment, and support” by 2010.” 3 This commitment, and others like the Abuja Declarations, complements the health-related UN Millennium Development Goals, which establish targets on reducing child mortality, improving maternal health, and combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other major diseases by 2015 4 . Although Africa especially the countries south of the Sahara seems to be lagging behind on most of the global targets, the increased global and national commitments, as well as financial investments towards combating HIV and AIDS, have produced tangible progress that can motivate politicians and public health workers to accelerate their efforts towards above targets and goals. A rapidly growing number of people have access to HIV prevention, care and other interventions. Available data indicate that in Africa, access to HIV testing and Counseling (HTC), Prevention of Mother-To-Child-Transmission (PMTCT) and antiretroviral therapy (ART) is increasing substantially. Furthermore, there is evidence that prevention programs are paying off dividends since behavior change and declining HIV prevalence in some high-burden countries have been documented in recent years 5 . 2.1 PURPOSE The main purpose of this progress report is to give account of progress made by Member States since 2006 towards Universal Access for HIV prevention, care, and treatment. The report covers the main priority interventions, such as program policy and management, HIV testing and counseling (HTC), prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT), and access to anti-retroviral therapy (ART). 1 2007 AIDS Epidemic Update. Geneva, UNAIDS/WHO, December 2007. United Nations General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS, 25-27 June 2001. Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS. 3 United Nations General Assembly Sixtieth Session. Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS. (UN General Assembly document 60/262). 15 June 2006. 2 4 http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/ accessed on 25 March 2008. 5 2007 AIDS Epidemic Update. Geneva, UNAIDS/WHO, December 2007.