New joint UNAIDS/WHO report, AIDS Epidemic Update 2005, was presented on November 21, 2005 in Kyiv

UNAIDS launched the new joint UNAIDS/WHO report, AIDS Epidemic Update 2005, featuring updated global and regional estimates on HIV and AIDS and new trends in the epidemic’s evolution on 21 November 2005, in Kyiv, Ukraine, for the Eastern Europe and Central Asian Region. This year’s report has a special section on HIV prevention.

Key findings of the report was presented, including:
 New evidence exists showing drop in HIV infection rates in several countries
 Number of people living with HIV continues to increase in Eastern Europe and Central Asia
 Prevention programmes need to be strengthened and sustained to slow the spread of AIDS

The speakers of this regional press event were:Francis M. O’Donnell, UN Resident Coordinator in Ukraine, Lars O. Kallings Special Envoy of the United Nations Secretary-General for HIV/AIDS in Eastern Europe, Flavio Mirella, Chair, UN Theme Group on HIV/AID in the Russian Federation, UNODC Representative, Moscow, Vladimir Zhovtyak, Chairperson, Eastern European and Central Asian Union of Organizations of People Living with HIV,
Lilia Podkopaeva, Ukrainian Olympic Gymnastics Champion, UN Goodwill Ambassador for HIV/AIDS in Ukraine.

For further information, please contact:
UNAIDS Press Office, Geneva:
Jacqueline Daldin, tel: +41 22 791 3501, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Sophie Barton-Knott, tel: +41 22 791 1697, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
UNAIDS office, Kyiv: +38 044 254 0088