HIV/AIDS is the most serious health challenge facing our world today. The number of people living with HIV/AIDS has risen to its highest level ever—across the globe close to 40 million people are living with HIV/AIDS. Last year, over four million people were newly infected with HIV and over three million people died of HIV/AIDS-related illnesses.

Sub-Saharan Africa remains the world’s worst HIV/AIDS-affected region. The area holds just over 10% of the world’s population but is home to more than 60% of all people living with HIV/AIDS and more than 75% of all women infected with the virus.

An estimated 25 million people living in sub-Saharan Africa are infected with HIV and last year an estimated two million people there died of AIDS.