SOME FACTS

Since the first HIV case 20 years ago, over 60 million people have been infected,                    and over 20 million have already died from AIDS. In Africa, there are an estimated 11,000 new infections per day, and during 2001       approximately 2.3 million Africans will die from HIV/AIDS. In several Caribbean countries, HIV/AIDS has become a leading cause of death.                    Haiti and the Bahamas are especially hard hit. Eastern Europe – especially the Russian Federation – continues to experience                         the fastest-growing epidemic in the world.

Currently, there are approximately 14 million children orphaned by HIV/AIDS, with a projection of 40 million children by 2010 if no action is taken. With each minute that passes, another African child dies of AIDS.