On World Aids Day, a quarter of a century after the disease was first identified, the burden of the epidemic continues to deepen and broaden. The private sector needs to get more involved and the public and non-governmental sectors should recognise and harness a greater contribution from business.

With 40m people now living with HIV, over 4m new infections and nearly 3m deaths this year, the impact is greater than ever. And with the fastest growth in infections taking place in the former Soviet world, China and India, the economic and social risks are intensifying. Without the sharp increase in recent years in funding, new medicines and innovative approaches to public health to tackle Aids, the position would be far worse. But much more still needs to be done and the business community should play a growing role.