5) Zimbabwe – Prevalence Rate: 14.9%

Despite the severity of the epidemic, prevalence rates have begun to show signs of decline. It was 22.1 percent in 2003. Severe brain drain of the nation’s health care professionals is a major challenge for its leadership.

4) South Africa – Prevalence Rate: 17.3%

AIDS is a prominent health concern in South Africa. The nation has more people with AIDS (5,600,000) than any other country in the world. Although new infections among mature age groups are high, new infections among teenagers seem to be on the decline.

3) Lesotho – Prevalence Rate: 23.3%

Approximately 290,000 people in Lesotho are affected by AIDS. Around 18,000 people die due to this disease every year. The government is taking concrete actions to address the epidemic.

2) Botswana – Prevalence Rate: 23.4%

First case of HIV was reported in 1985 in Botswana. Since then the nation has been hard hit by HIV. Approximately 320,000 people living in this nation are infected with HIV. The disease threatens the many developmental gains the nation has achieved since its independence.

1) Swaziland – Prevalence rate: 26.0%

In this landlocked nation in Southern Africa, one in four adults is living with HIV. Approximately 190,000 people are infected with HIV in this country. Around 10,000 people die due to this disease every year. HIV was first reported in 1986 in Swaziland.

Leaders of all the nations of our world need to work together to deal with this dreadful disease.