Estimated worldwide HIV infections: 58 580 614 at 5.30pm on Wednesday August 11 2004.
Britain is to become the first nation to use the international bond market as a direct mechanism to raise money for a developing country public health programme.
A vaccination programme will be launched next year as a public-private partnership between the British and French governments and the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (Gavi), together with the World Bank and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Gavi will fund vaccination programmes in 56 low-income countries backed by $400-million a year from donors and up to 10 times that amount raised from selling bonds.
Gavi seeks to raise money quickly to ramp up global spending on infectious diseases, especially HIV/Aids. UNAids estimates that $20-billion a year will be needed to fund HIV care by 2007.
Source: Aidsmap