Ignorance and prejudice are fuelling the spread of a preventable disease.

World AIDS Day, 1 December is an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV and AIDS. This year, it’s up to you, me and us to stop the spread of HIV and end prejudice.

The latest statistics on the world epidemic of AIDS & HIV were published by UNAIDS/WHO in November 2006, and refer to the end of 2006.

People living with HIV/AIDS in 2006 39.5 million
Adults living with HIV/AIDS in 2006 37.2 million
Women living with HIV/AIDS in 2006 17.7 million
Children living with HIV/AIDS in 2006 2.3 million
People newly infected with HIV in 2006 4.3 million
Adults newly infected with HIV in 2006 3.8 million
Children newly infected with HIV in 2006 0.53 million
AIDS deaths in 2006 2.9 million
Adult AIDS deaths in 2006 2.6 million
Child AIDS deaths in 2006 0.38 million

More than 25 million people have died of AIDS since 1981.

Africa has 12 million AIDS orphans.

At the end of 2006, women accounted for 48% of all adults living with HIV worldwide, and for 59% in sub-Saharan Africa.

Young people (15-24 years old) account for half of all new HIV infections worldwide - around 6,000 become infected with HIV every day.

In developing and transitional countries, 6.8 million people are in immediate need of life-saving AIDS drugs; of these, only 1.65 million are receiving the drugs.