Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a hidden epidemic in Pakistan but it has already caused unprecedented devastation in Africa where entire countries are crumbling under its burden. There are over 40 million human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cases worldwide, of whom 38 million live in the
developing world. Less than a million patients receive antiretroviral (ARV) therapy and most of these are in the developed World. Nearly 4 million die from HIV with an
additional 5 million new cases world wide annually. In sub-Saharan Africa, which bears the most burden, the median life expectancy has decreased from over 60 to around 30 yrs and is continuing to fall. At this rate we may see many countries in Africa depopulate in our lifetimes. No natural calamity, plague or wars in human history has ever caused a depopulation of countries and continents at this scale – this crisis is unique.
HIV/AIDS: The State of The Nation
