The UN Chief, Mr. Ban Ki-moon has inaugurated a three-day General Assembly meeting General Assembly meeting to address the rising issue of HIV/AIDS. He said that the main aim of the meeting will be to reach at a level of zero new infections, zero stigma and zero Aids-related deaths.

Michel Sidibe, Executive Director of the United Nations AIDS Agency, told the leaders at the meeting that that the vision of an AIDS-free world can be realized. He has called on the presidents, ministers and diplomats from across the globe to take the responsibility of controlling the epidemic.

Mr. Sidibe said that about 1.8 million people die due to AIDS every year in the developing world and in developed countries AIDS is becoming an endemic. He further added that about 9 million people in the world await treatment for the deadly disease.

Meanwhile, India has also urged the United Nations General Assembly to take up actions and provide necessary resources to deal with HIV/AIDS. Union Health Minister of India, Ghulam Nabi Azad has called for a proactive and collective action from the United Nations General Assembly in order to improve the availability of affordable and quality drugs.