Roll out, roll out

摘要

It is no coincidence that Rio de Janeirp was chosen to host this year's Conference on HIV Pathogenesis and Treatment. Brazil's handling of the epidemic is widely regarded as exemplary. In the early 1990s, the World Bank predicted that, by 2000, HIV would have infected 1.2m Brazilians. Today, five years after that deadline, the total is just half the Bank's prediction-about 600,000. So how did Brazil do it, and can other poor countries learn from what was done? Perhaps the first lesson is don't be squeamish. Brazil, a predominantly Catholic country, hands out free condoms in abundance. Some 20m are given away every month-a figure that is boosted by 50% in February to accommodate the exuberance of the country's famous carnivals. Drug users, too, are treated sensibly. Those who inject are offered regular supplies of clean needles and, as a result, three-quarters of them claim never to share needles with others. Nor are prostitutes neglected. Both ladies and gentlemen of the night are the targets of campaigns intended to promote condom use.