UN's Latest World AIDS Stats Cast Pall on Global Efforts, Says AHF

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the nation's largest AIDS group which operates free AIDS treatment clinics in the US, Africa, Central America, and Asia, today expressed concern over the latest worldwide HIV/AIDS statistics, released earlier today in a joint report by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNAIDS, the United Nations' AIDS program. The report showed an increase of 5 million new HIV infections worldwide-the largest annual increase since the start of the epidemic-pushing the total number of people currently living with HIV/AIDS worldwide to a record 40.3 million individuals.

"While we have made significant progress in expanding the delivery of lifesaving antiretroviral treatment in many places in the developing world, the sad fact remains that nearly three times as many people are dying from AIDS than are currently on ARV treatment," remarked Michael Weinstein, President of AIDS Healthcare Foundation. "As few as five percent of the people in need are currently on treatment, so although our efforts have improved, in the overall war against AIDS, we are by and large still losing the fight."

The UN report singled out some successes in the battle against AIDS: Zimbabwe, Kenya and the Caribbean region all saw decreases in incidence of infections. However, the report also noted the fastest growth in new HIV infections occurred in countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, where the number of people living with HIV has increased by twenty-fold in less than ten years.

"We are particularly concerned about the explosion of new infections in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, where we should have been able to contain such rapid escalation of the epidemic," added AHF's Weinstein. "After studying these latest statistics, we urge all partners in the global AIDS fight to work together to redouble and streamline efforts in order to truly wage a more efficient and effective campaign against this worldwide pandemic."

What: Media Availability

* AHF Officials Available to Respond to Latest Worldwide

HIV/AIDS Statistics

Who: Michael Weinstein, AIDS Healthcare Foundation President

When: MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21ST ALL DAY

Where: AHF's Administrative Headquarters, 6255 Sunset Blvd, 2100,

Hollywood 90028 (@ Argyle) SOURCE AIDS Healthcare Foundation

-0- 11/21/2005

/CONTACT: Ged Kenslea, AHF Communications Director, +1-323-860-5225, or mobile +1-323-791-5526/