New medicines have been developed which allow infected persons to live longer with a higher quality of life. Although anti-retroviral treatment is effective and its cost constantly being reduced, its availability on a large scale requires massive intervention in terms of training, logistics and funding as well as strategies to decrease stigma and support mechanisms for life-long adherence.

In the last ten years the landscape of national HIV epidemics has changed for the better in most countries, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Countries are making historic gains towards ending the AIDS epidemic: 700 000 fewer new HIV infections across the world in 2011 than in 2001.