Targets and results around the world

When the 3 by 5 initiative started, in December 2003, some 400,000 people were already accessing drugs. By June 2004, this global figure had risen by 40,000, meaning that 8% of all people in need were receiving treatment. Half of these people were living in Latin America and the Caribbean, where coverage was 54%, while just 4% of needy Africans had access.

At the end of 2004, an estimated 700,000 people were being provided drugs. Coverage had reached 65% in the Americas but all other regions had still not exceeded 10%.

As of June 2005, an estimated 970,000 people were receiving treatment, including 500,000 in sub-Saharan Africa and 290,000 in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The 3 by 5 target is for half of all people in need of ARV drugs to be receiving them. This is not the same as each individual country reaching 50% coverage. Many of the worst affected nations had very low rates of provision when the intitiative was launched, and access will remain unequal even if the December 2005 goal is achieved. Crucial to 3 by 5 success will be the progress of South Africa, India and Nigeria. At the end of 2004, these three nations between them accounted for 41% of unmet need. However, there are many countries which have severe HIV epidemics but whose achievements will have little effect on the total figures. The profiles below present a range of situations from around the world.