(VOVworld) – To mark World AIDS Day on December 1^st, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on the international community to join efforts to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030.

In his message to 193 UN member countries, Ban Ki Moon warned that the window of opportunity to act is closing, stressing the importance of speeding up the fight against HIV/AIDS. He said it’s necessary to provide adolescent girls and young women with access to education and real options to protect themselves from HIV. UN statistics indicate there are approximately 37 million people living with HIV.

Also on Tuesday, the White House announced a new action plan on HIV/AIDS prevention for the next 5 years.