A global conference on AIDS continued Monday after U.N. officials said that victory against the disease would not come soon and people at risk could only be saved by significant funding. Money, access to treatment, improving prevention against the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and several social problems including stigma and violence against women have been key topics at the conference, being held in Mexico City. At Sunday's opening ceremony, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged wealthy donor countries to adhere to U.N. and Group of Eight (G8) pledges to achieve universal access to anti-HIV drugs by 2010. “As the fight against AIDS nears the end of its third decade, we are still facing a huge shortfall in resources,” the U.N. chief said. “The responses to HIV and AIDS require long-term and sustained financing. As more people go on treatment and live longer, budgets will have to increase considerably over the next few decades. In the most affected countries, donors will have to provide the majority of the funding.” Over 25 million people have died from AIDS since the disease first emerged in 1981, and 33 million people today are living with HIV. About 90 percent of HIV-positive people live in poor countries. In the past two years, there has been a major increase in aid for such people, but even now, few of those in need have access to anti-retroviral drugs.
