HIV/AIDS is one of the worst pandemics in human history. It has left no country untouched, but global responses to its spread have largely been slow and inadequate—many efforts have been initiated have been hampered by racism, homophobia, stigma, gender inequality, and grinding poverty. However, doomsday predictions can be scrapped if we all act now.

This No-Nonsense Guide examines the history and the course of the pandemic, the many factors intensifying its spread, and what needs to be done to turn the tide. While this is the story of a major world tragedy, it also includes inspiring social and community movements that reaffirm the resilience of the human spirit and offer hope for our future.

Shereen Usdin is a medical doctor and a public health specialist. She is co-founder of the internationally acclaimed Soul City for Health and Development Communication in South Africa, and works in the areas of development communication, HIV/AIDS, violence against women, and human rights.

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