Secretary of State Colin Powell called on every nation of the world to provide leadership in fighting the AIDS epidemic at an unprecedented meeting on December 4. For the first time, Powell invited diplomats from 164 countries to Washington for World AIDS Day. Regrettably, only 86 countries – just more than half of those invited – sent representatives to the event.

Strong national leadership, combined with sustained international support, has helped Uganda turn around its AIDS problem. National, well-funded and concentrated prevention efforts helped lower the country’s AIDS prevalence rate from 21.2 percent in 1991 to 6.2 percent 10 years later. Sadly, too few countries have expressed willingness to invest the resources necessary to duplicate Uganda’s success.

“HIV doesn't just destroy immune systems, it also undermines the social, economic and political systems that underpin entire nations and regions. The disease spreads fastest in places under stress, weakening already fragile support systems beyond the breaking point,” said Powell. “It is critically important that accurate, lifesaving information reaches all of the people in our countries. Like great evils, AIDS feeds on ignorance and fear. "