While HIV/AIDS is clearly a health problem, the world has come to realize it is also a development problem that threatens
human welfare, socio-economic advances, productivity, social cohesion, and even national security. HIV/AIDS reaches into every corner of society, affecting parents, children and youth, teachers and health workers, rich and poor. The World Bank--in partnership with others-- is working to roll back the spread of this global epidemic. As the largest long-term investor in prevention and mitigation of HIV/AIDS in developing countries, the World Bank Group is working with its partners to: Prevent new HIV infections; Expand treatment and care for people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. By supporting countries to strengthen their health systems; develop and implement effective, costed, evidence-based national HIV and AIDS strategies and action plans, build well-functioning monitoring and evaluation systems; and use multi-sectoral approaches (e.g. working in education, social safety nets, transport and other vital areas). The World Bank is working with all regions in the developing world that are affected by HIV/AIDS. The Global HIV/AIDS Program, ACT Africa (AIDS Campaign Team for Africa) and SARAIDS (South Asia Regional AIDS team) are helping to coordinate this work.