This master thesis deals with recent developments in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Firstly, it gives a rather general survey over the current global situation, describes particular crises, deals with donations and finances, scrutinizes new prevention methods and the scientific chances and challenges of developing an antidote. It puts a special focus on sub-Saharan Africa, where the highest amount of HIV-positive and AIDS infected people live. Secondly, the paper compares political and socio-cultural differences between the two countries of Botswana and South Africa and evaluates different mechanisms and strategies to curb the disease. This part is meant to deliver a positive and a negative example of a successful response to the global health threat in order to show how and how not to fight the disease.Thirdly, the question of medical access is tackled. This is done from the angle of international intellectual property law. Deficiencies in global access towards antiretroviral treatment are described. Furthermore, it is examined in how far the WHO (World Health Organization) and its Trade-Related Aspects of International Property Law (TRIPS) impinge on treatement access and the production of generics.