NEW YORK -- The Romanian government's serious commitment to improve access to treatment, increase outreach activities, build an effective partnership with the private sector and improve health infrastructure has led to dramatic progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

According to Dr. Peter Piot, UNAIDS executive director, this progress is one of the big lessons of Romania. Although the percentage of those affected by HIV/AIDS is relatively small compared to other countries, what is happening in Romania can still prove to be a good model for other countries in a similar stage of economic development.

Following the fall of Communism and the collapse of the health infrastructure, it was necessary to revamp the health system to be able to respond to the needs of the Romanian population. During the 1980s, thousands of orphaned infants and small children became infected with HIV. Romania had more children infected with HIV/AIDS than any other nation in Europe. Initially, the epidemic was fueled by children infected in hospitals through blood transfusions given as treatment for anemia and undernourishment, as well as by the large number of youngsters using drugs.