The entire diplomatic corps is invited to the State Department Tuesday to hear Secretary of State Colin Powell deliver a message he hopes they will convey to their governments: Political leadership is an essential component in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

It is believed to be the first time all ambassadors from governments accredited in Washington will have gathered to hear a message on a public health issue, said Jack Chow, the U.S. ambassador on AIDS. "We know that national political leaders who are willing to speak out and commit their governments to a course of constructive action in combination with public health investment can make a difference," Chow said.

He cited the example of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, who early in his presidency recognized AIDS as a national security threat and personally oversaw the creation of a joint center for research. As a result, Chow said, Uganda is one example of a country where "a leader made a tangible, concrete difference at the grass roots level." Assertive leadership in Senegal and Thailand has produced similar results, he said. While he would not say HIV/AIDS is declining in these countries, he contended they have "been able to deflect the rate below that of their neighbors." He hopes the experiences of these countries can be replicated in the "special risk countries" -- Nigeria, Ethiopia, China, India and Russia -- all of which face a growing incidence of HIV/AIDS. The potential for catastrophe is high, he said, since all the countries have high population densities with relatively weak public health systems.

"It is a personal honor to be America's first ambassador dedicated to health," Chow said, citing as a cause for optimism the downward-trending prices of antiretroviral drugs.

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