Cuba's success in fighting the aids epidemic was based on rigorous testing, contact tracing and the use of sanatoria in the 80s and nineties.

"Dr Byron Barksdale, director of the Cuban AIDS Project, an American charity, says "The US can learn a lot of things from Cuba about HIV/AIDS." He told the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science this year that the US too should educate people intensively if they are newly diagnosed with HIV infection. "I don't know if six weeks or eight weeks are the magic numbers," he said referring to the education programme, "but that is certainly a longer time than is given to people in the US who receive such a diagnosis. They may get about five minutes' worth of education."

But he also admits to cultural differences between the two countries that would make it difficult to implement the Cuban model. "In the US, the rights of the individual are foremost, but in Cuba the individual is expected to do what is necessary to protect the collective society." That is why people in high risk categories are willing to roll up their sleeves and not protest HIV tests, he adds. In Havana the law is clear on both the rights and duties of HIV-carriers, and those suspected of being infected. Anyone who is HIV positive, who does not use a condom and does not tell their sexual partner, commits a crime."