Brazil’s National AIDS Program is among the best in the world. It has helped halve the number of AIDS-related deaths in Brazil. The country now has about 600,000 people infected, less than 0.1% of the adult population and much fewer than initial estimates. 364,000 HIV/AIDS cases have been notified since 1980, of which 253,000 are presently followed by the Program; 158,000 people are on treatment with anti-retroviral drugs, ensuring a survival of 58 months, comparable to AIDS survival rates in OECD countries.

The World Bank has given substantial financial support for Brazil’s National AIDS Program, with total lending for AIDS-related projects of $431.6 million since 1988.

The ongoing AIDS III Project ($200 million) aims to reduce the incidence of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and HIV, and improve the quality of life for people living with HIV/AIDS. Specific objectives include:

• expanding the coverage and quality of interventions;

• decentralizing the financing and management of program activities;

• strengthening program management;
  
• introducing technological upgrading and innovation in treatment and prevention;
  
• reducing discrimination and stigma associated with HIV/AIDS.

Project results so far include:

• Action Plans developed by 26 states and the Federal District, and 431 municipalities, covering 96% of AIDS cases;
  
• 309 voluntary testing and counseling centers established;
  
• 700 subprojects, of which 407 focus on prevention and 342 are implemented by NGOs;
  
• subprojects focusing on vulnerable contexts such as prisons, which house 200,000 people highly vulnerable to infection;
  
• study plans for development of an AIDS vaccine, microbicides and diagnostic and monitoring kits developed;
  
• free provision of condoms expected to increase from 400 million units in 2005 to 1 billion units in 2006.