Poor nations need to strike a deal for cheap HIV drugs, says Clinton

The former president joined a panel of former heads of state in a special session at the 14th International AIDS Conference in Barcelona to discuss the role of political leadership in the global fight against AIDS.

Mr Clinton told the conference participants that they were the real heroes in the fight against AIDS.

‘‘Most of what people like me have done, you’ve kind of dragged out of us over the course of 20 years by educating us and continuing to chip away,’’ he said. He told them not to be discouraged. ‘‘Obviously these numbers are overwhelming, and there have been no medical breakthroughs and I know a lot of you are worn down, and if you’re HIV positive you may be frightened,’’ he said.