DURBAN (SOUTH AFRICA) - More than 18,000 scientists, campaigners and donors opened a major AIDS conference in South Africa on Monday, issuing stark warnings that recent gains in the fight against the disease were under threat. The approach changed under subsequent leaders, and South Africa now has the world's largest treatment programme. "Today, more than 12 million Africans are on treatment -- more than a quarter of them living here in South Africa." "This conference comes at another crucial time in the HIV epidemic," said Chris Beyrer, president of the International AIDS Society. Mbeki denied millions access to antiretroviral drugs, and a Harvard study later concluded his policies were responsible for 300,000 avoidable deaths in South Africa.

Source: Bangkok Post July 18, 2016 14:03 UTC