Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2003. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
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Reuters NewMedia - Wednesday November 19, 2003
Since the HIV/AIDS virus was detected 20 years ago, more than 60 million people worldwide have been infected and 20 million have died.
"If we cannot turn the trend, there's a risk that we will have another 45 million infected people around the year 2010," said Lennart Hjelmaker, whose past postings include five years at the Swedish embassy in Kenya and five years in Zimbabwe.
Africa is the continent hit worst by the HIV/AIDS pandemic. But the disease was now spreading fastest in Eastern Europe and Asia, said the new special ambassador.
"You have to tackle this with your heart as well as your brain," he said, adding that his list of tasks included trying to convince the Catholic church that condoms are needed.
Sweden, where HIV/AIDS is relatively rare, is one of the world's leading foreign aid donors.
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