AIDS is a security issue. Ken Bernard advises NSC on international health.

Though AIDS has killed 16 million people worldwide and HIV has infected another 35 million governments of some of the hardest hit countries still refuse to recognize the emergency. Even the US has yet to devote significant resources to the crisis. However there are signs that the magnitude of the AIDS epidemic is finally being recognized. One of them is the effort of Kenneth W. Bernard US special advisor for international health affairs to the National Security Council. This article presents an interview with Bernard and discusses his plans on promoting health particularly on the AIDS problem as a national security issue. Bernard believes that people in power should recognize the impact of AIDS on the economic development of the country. He projected that institutionalizing international health issues in the national security agenda is going to be carried out and US AIDS spending will significantly increase over the coming years.