video transcript

31 year old Dana Jackson gets tested for HIV aids. And the united medical center in Washington DC. The mother of three came to treat a painful leg infection but stayed back to get the test. The test of free the results are quick and those who test positive get to see a doctor at the very same day. People some people just don't wanna know. You know but they is something that's that's like a -- out. And should be is should be known everywhere. And it should be offered to everyone conveniently. So known as a reason -- it. Located in -- largely African American neighborhood clinics doctor as a response to the epidemic and other rates of HIV prevalence the US capitol. Especially in the black community. The city that hosts the international aids conference or eighths 2012 this weekend. Now stands out as a hot spot in the fight against the global pandemic. Almost 3% of the city's population is living with HIV. Three quarters of them African Americans. The numbers reflect gradually changing face of an epidemic once stigma does as a homosexual disease. But in the last Beckett has affected a disproportionate number of African Americans particularly black women. Doctor -- -- the National Institutes of Health hazards such as know a lot about prevention and treatment. But not enough about how to reach those most at risk. Has complacency. Is a key challenge in the fight against aids. The good news is that we have good therapies we have good method of prevention. The sobering news is that there is some complacency because if you look. Here in the United States. Early in the years of the pandemic. When you looked at the number of newly infected people each year it's soared up in the eighty -- went over a 1203040000. New infections a year. And it peaked and started to come down. But when it came down it sort of settled at a plateau of about 50000 new infections each year in the United States. That is completely unacceptable and we've got to do better than that. In sharp contrast infection rates have steadily dropped in -- of the developing world. A new UN report says an estimated eight million people in low and middle income countries receiving anti retroviral drugs. In sub saharan Africa the number of new HIV infections and now down by more than 26%. From the height of the epidemic in 1997. Greater access to medicine has helped aid stations live long but thought she says it's treating more HIV infected people remains a top priority. Is less than half of the people who really need therapy are actually getting it. And unfortunately for every one person that we put on therapy in the developing world to people get newly infected. Despite the challenges thought she says he sees a light at the end of the -- And believes the disease will be eradicated. I believe we see the end in sight. I couldn't -- said this ten years ago but right now we can. Skip the inflection of the epidemic we can get that curve to stop pointing downward. Winona risen a dollar of civilized the united medical Santa. The clock in education stops for the first step getting tested. When you go from zero testing to these large staggering numbers and you're getting a 2%. Positivity rate. This is people that never knew that they have -- so there -- you know they're living their lives are doing their every day. Things not knowing that they have the disease and there's actually -- now than four minutes. It's 2012 kicks off on July 22 in Washington DC. Bringing the hope that a city with some of the highest rates of HIV infection in the United States lead the way in finding a killer. For the threat Cilic -- it is.