In Switzerland the Federal Office of Public Health has developed a comprehensive set of AIDS care and prevention policies and activities in recent years. For their actual implementation, the main responsibility lies with the health departments of the 26 Cantons. This paper originates from one of the large Cantons, Vaud. Major efforts have been made from the Federal level to transmit relevant AIDS-related information to the general public. Much remains to be done to assist people, especially high risk groups, to translate the vital prevention messages into behaviour changes. For youth in general, new attitudes towards sexual relations are called for, different from those of young people 10 or 15 years ago. In Vaud, a number of entry points are used to pass on this education: physicians and nurses involved in school health, teachers and, among the latter, two groups with specific in-service training and part-time functions—mediators (who make themselves available to children in various risk situations) and health animators (promoting the inclusion of health education topics in the teaching). There is a special health programme for 16–19 year olds. Also a substantial tradition of sexual education sessions in the school system offers valuable opportunities for AIDS education. Further, innovative strategies are developed to reach and work with the male homosexuals and, to the extent possible, intravenous drug addicts. In conclusion it is emphasized that, in many ways, AIDS education issues demand courage from health and public leaders.