The Economist: A report shows HIV in retreat in many African countries
“…Some researchers predict that several African countries will soon achieve ‘epidemic control,’ meaning that fewer people are newly infected each year than die of the disease. New data from the American President’s Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a program launched by George W. Bush in 2003 under which more than 11m people now get treatment, suggests just how close that goal may be. In hard-hit countries, such as Zimbabwe and Zambia, the rate of new infections has more than halved. The prevalence of HIV (i.e., the total proportion of the population who carry the virus) has also fallen sharply, though it remains horribly high…” (12/3).

ScienceInsider: Southern Africa’s AIDS epidemic takes nosedive
“…The three countries [Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe] since 2004 collectively have received nearly $4 billion from the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which gave [the international health-strengthening program called ICAP at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health] $125 million to conduct what are known as population-based HIV impact assessments (PHIAs) in 12 sub-Saharan African countries and Haiti. The aim is to help the countries and PEPFAR better target prevention and treatment efforts. The preliminary findings announced [Thursday] are the first data reported from these assessments…” (Cohen, 12/1).