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Page last updated at 08:24 GMT, Thursday, 23 April 2009 09:24 UK

"I can buy life, that's not fair"

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On 23rd April 1984, the United States Health Secretary, serving under President Ronald Reagan, made the historic announcement of the discovery of a virus thought to cause AIDS. The virus would eventually be known as HIV.

At her press conference Secretary Margaret Heckler made the astonishing prediction that a vaccine to prevent AIDS could be developed within two years.

Eric Sawyer who was infected with HIV in the 1980s was hopeful.

He reflects on the last 25 years - the friends he has lost, the rage that propels him to keep on living and the unfairness in being able to buy life.

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