Bristol-Myers Squibb is one of the largest producers of HIV-medication worldwide. Currently BMS has three HIV-drugs on the market in Belgium and new products are in development.

1) Clinical pictures

HIV and AIDS
The HIV-virus was discovered over 25 years ago. At that time there was hardly any medication available. Since then the disease has developed into an epidemic with over 40 million people infected worldwide. In some African countries over 20 percent of the population is suffering from HIV/AIDS. 995 new patients with HIV were registered in 2006 in Belgium (http://www.iph.fgov.be/epidemio/aids).

The advent of improved medication has hugely lowered the number of deaths due to HIV/AIDS over the last 10 years and HIV/AIDS has become a chronic disease in western countries. In developing countries the mortality from HIV/AIDS is still extremely high.
(http://www.unaids.org/en/HIV_data/epi2006/)

2) Society: Secure the Future® 
 
The largest project of the BMS Foundation is the Secure the Future® programme. The programme has been running since 1999 in South and West Africa. BMS supports a number of projects aimed at women and children infected with HIV/AIDS. BMS invests in education, infrastructure, medical support, prevention and medical scientific research. The ultimate goal is to develop the capacity, infrastructure and sustainability of the existing programmes in cooperation with the local populations, governments and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

BMS has invested over $115 million in Secure The Future since 1999. Another $6 million has recently been added to that for a new clinic for children with HIV/AIDS in Botswana.

We supply HIV-medication at cost price in Africa. The contribution made by BMS is the largest of all individual donors in the prevention and combating of HIV/AIDS in the world.

For more information visit: http://www.securethefuture.com/