"Despite some progress, HIV is a major obstacle to achieving the Millennium Development Goals. The pandemic causes incalculable human suffering. It threatens the social and economic infrastructure of the human family. More needs to be done,” said Cardinal Óscar Rodríguez Maradiaga, Caritas Internationalis President, on World AIDS Day.

Combining leadership and professional skills with Christian compassion, Caritas has over 20 years experience of responding to HIV and AIDS.

Caritas goes far beyond providing medicines. In some of the world’s poorest countries, it assures good nutrition, sponsors education and counselling and works to eliminate stigma and exclusion toward those living with or affected by HIV.

From Phnom Penh to Tbilisi, Caritas reached out to communities with care and education programmes, and participated in debate on subjects as diverse as the relationship between substance abuse and HIV and the impact of this pandemic on the Millennium Development Goals.

Developing countries do not always benefit from the advances made in care and treatment. Caritas urges governments, institutions and pharmaceutical firms to improve access to AIDS care. It also educates in prevention.