UNAIDS: The First 10 Years

Chapter 4Such feelings led, in July 1998, after the Geneva AIDS conference, to another of Piot’s private,informal retreats at Talloires, on the shore of Lake Annecy in France. Piot recalled: “I just felt‘we’re not moving, not going anywhere. The AIDS epidemic is getting worse but no resultsand no support. What do we do?’”89Once again, the advice was to move on the political front, nationally and internationally.The group believed it was no longer possible to make any progress without a quantum leapin political will. Piot said: “That’s where we said, ‘get into the Security Council, the GeneralAssembly, a Special Session. In countries, go to see Ministers of Finance’”.All agreed that this was a defining moment. Over the next year or so, there would be moreroom for optimism – not because there was any success in altering the epidemic’s upwardcourse, but rather because of some success in making the changes needed in the politicallandscape to do this. Work behind the scenes would culminate in major events in 2000and 2001 that testified to the growing involvement of political and other leaders in thedeveloped as well as developing world.On 1 December 1998, World AIDS Day, an event on an army base in Kwazulu-Natal saw thehighest level of engagement in South Africa. Speakers included President Nelson Mandela,Prince Buthelezi and Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini. It was the first time Mandela had spokenabout AIDS in his own country, which was experiencing one of the fastest growing epidemicsin the world. He reminded the audience that behind every statistic hid a human being andthat political commitment was essential for an effective response to AIDS.1 December 1998,World AIDS Day, anevent on an army basein Kwazulu-Natal,South Africa. Speakersincluded PresidentNelson Mandela, PrinceButhelezi, Zulu KingGoodwill Zwelithini andPeter PiotUNAIDS