Malawi Adopts U.N. HIV Guidelines

Malawi vice president Joyce Banda announced September 29 that Malawi will adopt the U.N.'s latest AIDS guidelines, which call for treating HIV patients earlier in the course of illness. The decision could double -- to 500,000 -- the number of Malawians on AIDS drugs by July. However, an estimated 1 million people there are in need of the medications.

Most who are receiving the drugs get them free thanks to groups like the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. At least 12% of Malawians are living with HIV.