Letter from the Editor

World AIDS Day is held on 1 December. It aims to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS around the world to help advance HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care. While most countries in our Region report low prevalence rates of HIV infection ( 1%) in the general population and 5% in at-risk groups, reliable data are lacking. According to the available evidence, it is estimated that between 400 000 and 530 000 people were living with HIV in the Middle East and North Africa at the end of 2009, an increase of around 165% from 2001.