“Today there are many good reasons to celebrate and to hope. For example, the life expectancy of people living with HIV has increased steadily in recent years. While we still have no cure and no vaccine, the drastic side effects of available medications have diminished, and antiretroviral therapy has been very successful. Today, when HIV is treated with drugs that prevent people from getting AIDS, the disease – which was once a death sentence – ends up being more of a chronic condition. 
 
For all our optimism and rejoicing, however, we must not forget that education is still one of our most pressing tasks. Future generations need to know that HIV is still one of the world’s most insidious infectious diseases and that it is deadly without medical treatment. At the same time, it is important to combat the stigma associated with HIV/AIDS.”