FIGURE 7.26 Global prevalence of HIV-AIDS (2009) and the incidence rate of infection (2001–2009). New HIV infections fell in sub-Saharan Africa from 2.2 million in 2001 to 1.8 million in 2009. In the same period, rates declined more than 25 percent in 22 of the countries. The rate has remained stable elsewhere in the region. The number of deaths from AIDS has declined in sub-Saharan Africa, in large measure because of the availability of antiretroviral medications.