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30 years to the day since the first case of Aids was discovered in the UK, campaigners around the world are pushing for greater recognition and better treatment for this still little-understood disease.

Statistics suggest that nearly a quarter of HIV-positive individuals are unaware of their medical status, and a staggering 50 per cent have a late diagnosis.

HIV and Aids are of particualr concern in the developing world, where lack of health education and access to effective contraception often hastens the spread of the disease.

But despite the worrying statistics, hope remains, and scientists are making considereable headway in tackling the spread and onset of the disease.

World Aids Day: A Day for Reflection, Action and Hope