[The fight against AIDS in Africa: perspectives and responsibilites]

As summarized in this article, key initiatives undertaken over the past 20 years have not succeeded in controlling the spread of AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa. Achievements are tenuous and local in scope. Two major handicaps have been dysfunctional national governments especially in the health sector and poor coordination of national and international strategies. As the epidemic spreads to Eastern Europe and Asia, there is an increasing need for effective application of the "three ONES principle", i.e., ONE action plan, ONE national body for coordinating, ONE monitoring and evaluation system.