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The Way orwardfor people who are and will becomeinfected. The overriding unknown is notwhether the epidemic will spread, for itsurely will. Rather, the unknown is thewillingness of groups at all levels of societyto openly address the disease, its causes,and effective means to control it. Thus, apart of the response is to speed up thetimetable for generating public andpolitical will. The level of motivation todo so is very mixed. HIV/AIDS can spreadrapidly, especially given the rightconditions. Across South Asia, thoseconditions exist and form pathwaysthrough which the epidemic can explodewithin the next several years. So long aspolicy-makers and opinion-shapers in allsectors ignore or deny the power of theepidemic, they are clearing thesepathways. Rather than serving theirconstituents, they are putting them at risk.Above all, there is a need to recognisethat the challenge of HIV in South Asiacan be met more effectively through ahuman development framework and notsolely through a public healthperspective. More importantly, there isneed to go beyond rhetoric and actuallychange the methodology through whichHIV/AIDS is currently being addressedin South Asia.“or there to be any hope of success in the fight against HIV/AIDS, the worldmust join together in a great global alliance.”Kofi Annan, UN–Secretary General, UNGASS Declaration of Commitmenton HIV/AIDSRegional Human Development ReportHIV/AIDS and Development in South Asia 2003 137