Health activists around the globe are using Saturday's annual observance of World AIDS Day to focus attention on efforts to combat the pandemic.
The U.N.-sponsored Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria says it has provided drugs for nearly 1.5 million people living with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
In the United States, President Bush is urging lawmakers to approve his proposal to spend $30 billion over the next five years to fight the disease. The president started a five-year, $15 billion-initiative in 2003 to provide live-saving drugs to AIDS patients in 120 countries, with an emphasis on 15 nations - mostly in Africa
U.S. officials say the number of people receiving treatment in sub-Saharan countries has risen from 50,000 to 500,000.
During a World AIDS Day event Friday, Mr. Bush announced that he and wife Laura will travel to sub-Saharan Africa early next year to get a first-hand look at U.S.-sponsored AIDS programs.
The head of UNAIDS, Peter Piot, said there is still a serious shortfall in resources for fighting the disease, and that those afflicted with AIDS continue to be stigmatized and suffer discrimination.
UNAIDS recently lowered its estimate of people around the world infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
The agency now says about 32.7 million people were living with the virus in 2006 - nearly 7 million fewer than previously estimated.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.
