This World AIDS Day, the United States recognizes continued progress in the global AIDS response as well as the serious threat HIV remains to global health and global health security.
Over nearly two decades, strong bipartisan U.S. leadership across Administrations and from Congress has helped move the global HIV epidemic from tragedy toward triumph. Globally, AIDS-related deaths have been cut by almost two-thirds, and new HIV infections have been halved since their respective peaks. In community after community, where AIDS once brought unfathomable death and despair, there is now vibrant life and hope.
Yet, as we have seen over the past 21 months, our progress on global health, including HIV, is neither impervious to new threats nor inevitable. We must keep our focus and conviction and address the enduring inequities facing far too many people around the world.
That is why the U.S. government’s theme for World AIDS Day this year is “Ending the HIV Epidemic: Equitable Access, Everyone’s Voice.” The HIV epidemic continues to claim nearly 700,000 lives and infect 1.5 million people annually, often fueled by deep disparities in access to life-saving HIV services solely because of who you are, where you live, or whom you love.
