Today is World AIDS Day, an international commemoration to highlight the growing world epidemic of AIDS and HIV. Activists around the world are using this date to draw attention to the growing medical crisis caused by the illness. Of the 33 million people estimated to be infected with HIV worldwide, 95 percent cannot afford the costly medications that could save their lives, this according to the latest report from the World Health Organization (WHO). HIV has taken an especially high toll on many countries in Africa, where heterosexual transmission of HIV is the highest in the world. In the United States, it is now hitting hardest among communities of color, the poor and prison populations — all of whom have particularly difficult access to expensive anti-HIV drugs.

Guests:

• Paul Davis, Act Up! activist and one of the organizers of the DuPont protest. Call Act Up: 215.731.1844.
• Dr. Alan Berkman, Internist specializing in the treatment of HIV at the High Bridge Woody Crest Center. He traveled to South Africa to look at AIDS in Africa in January and February of this year, just prior to President Clinton’s visit.