Act Now: Asia-Pacific Leaders Respond to HIV/AIDS UNAIDS/Asia Pacific Leadership Forum (June 2004)  Full Document (English)      Order for free      email to me  Countries in the Asia-Pacific region have reached a crossroads in their HIV/AIDS response. The ability of countries in the region to maintain low national HIV prevalence levels will depend on their success in rapidly scaling up prevention, care, and treatment. The argument for responding quickly is compelling: the longer governments wait to adopt interventions, the higher the eventual cost in lives, productivity, and national as well as household medical expenses. The leadership and resources needed for rapid scale up requires strong political commitment and action from the countries’ highest leaders. “Act Now”—a joint publication of the Asia-Pacific Leadership Forum on HIV/AIDS and Development (APLF), UNAIDS, and the USAID-funded POLICY Project—encourages leaders from across the region to vigorously combat the epidemic before the situation worsens. Responses will have their greatest impact if countries act when national prevalence is still low.