UNAIDS last week released their most recent AIDS Epidemic Update, an excellent resource for for AIDS policy professionals. The document is a 94 page tour de force, cogently presenting the many faces of the AIDS epidemic around the globe.

The stark graphs and figures continue to tell a devastating story: 5 million new infections in 2004, 3 million deaths, and rapid growth in the epidemic in many regions. The report also emphasized two key themes:

• Women are particularly vulnerable: We know that AIDS moves from "at risk" populations (sex workers, drug users, men who have sex with men) to the general population. What is increasingly clear that once in the general population, in most countries AIDS disproportionately targets poor women. There are many societal reasons for this, none easy to reverse. The report offers suggestions for stemming this problem -- such as the empowerment of women through education and legal means -- but the lack of concrete recommendations reflects the intractability of the problem.


• The Epidemic is extremely heterogenous: It is simplistic to refer to the "AIDS Epidemic" in the singular: its dynamic varies widely from region to region. Unfortunately, surveillance capabilities are still far too nascent to adequately track and understand the many "epidemics" which exist. In areas where we do have better data, policies are often poorly refined to respond to local conditions.

Overall the document does an excellent job presenting global statistics, describing the dynamics of AIDS by region, and offering a long list of background resources. While it doesn't take an aggressive "prescriptive" role, it does offer the data and insights necessary for smart policy formulation.

Kudos to author Hein Marais and many UNAIDS colleagues responsible for this document.

Amidst the frustrations of combating global AIDS, it is important to remember other major global health battles that have been fought in the past -- and won. The Center for Global Development has just published "Millions Saved", an excellent compendium of 17 case studies of major global health successes, ranging from the eradication of smallpox to success against onchocerciasis. The compendium includes a review of HIV prevention efforts in Thailand.

The World Bank today announced the launch of the AIDS Media Center, an information resource for media professionals worldwide that cover the AIDS epidemic. The site is a collaborative effort involving the World Bank, UNAIDS, Kaiser Family Foundation, PANOS, and other partners. Journalists play an enormous role in combating AIDS. The AIDS Media Center will make their work easier and more effective.