An estimated 34 million people around the world have AIDS or the HIV virus. Most of thevictims are from the developing world, two-thirds of them from Africa. Many experts saythe United States and other Western nations aren't doing enough to help. In particular, they fault drug companies for pricing AIDS drugs far out of the reach of Third World nations. Drugmakers say that they are helping, but they argue that expensive drugs won't do much good in countries that lack adequate hospitals and other health-care infrastructure. Experts also disagree over the best way to prevent the disease from spreading. Some advocate distributing condoms and promoting safe sex. But others say that only encourages promiscuous behavior and that health workers should stress sexual abstinence.

David Masci specializes in social policy, religion and foreign affairs. Before joining CQ Researcher as a staff writer in 1996, he was a reporter at CQ's Daily Monitor and CQ Weekly. He holds a BA in medieval history from Syracuse University and a law degree from The George Washington University.