On Feb. 1, 1987, the World Health Organization (WHO) launched its Global Program on AIDS as the architect and keystone of the global AIDS plan. The Special Programme on AIDS has designed the global strategy, has raised sufficient funds to begin implementing the strategy and, for this effort, has marshaled the support of every nation in the world.

National AIDS committees had been established in more than 150 countries and, by the end of 1988, the Special Programme supported every country in the world that requested collaboration.