As the World AIDS day passed on December 1st, millions of Americans and citizens around the world were reminded of the devastating effects of the disease. Unlike the past, access to antiviral drugs has increased to those in need in developing countries, and the awareness of the epidemic have promulgated more over the years. The G8 nations promised to provide antiviral drugs to everyone in need around the world by 2010. There has been a huge progress against AIDS, but there is a lot to be done to save more lives.

Although access to antiviral drugs has increased in developing counties, not everyone is getting them. Rural areas in Africa are still without medical help, and many more people are being infected with the disease daily. The effect is devastating. There are an increasing number of orphans in Africa, because both of their parents have died from AIDS. The effect of AIDS does not end from death but continues on by affecting the lives of children. There are also reports that are urging the G8 nations to do more than what they are doing now against AIDS, because by the current rate of progress the G8 nations will fall short of their goal to provide antiviral drugs to all by 2010, by 5 million!

A high sense of urgency is needed in all the government in the world to combat AIDS effectively and quickly. We have made huge progress so far, but we need to do more to fight this disease quickly and save more lives.