December 1st is World AIDS Day, an annual event aimed at raising awareness about the disease and raising funds to combat it worldwide.
Over the past four decades, health researchers have focused heavily on combating HIV, but infection with this virus remains a significant global health issue.
According to the World Health Organization, “an estimated 38.4 million people were living with HIV at the end of 2021.”
Biden Administration Launches New Global Strategy to End HIV/AIDS by 2030
On World AIDS Day, the Biden government renewed its efforts to combat the HIV/AIDS epidemic by 2030, launching a new strategy for the next 5 years.
The government announced on Thursday, December 1st, that it is implementing its response to HIV/AIDS with new global goals, including expanding treatment across all ages, genders, and population groups; supporting UNAIDS goals to reduce new HIV infections; and closing equity gaps for certain groups, including adolescent girls, young women, and children.
“Our work is not done. HIV remains a serious threat to global health security and economic development,” wrote US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. “Our progress can be easily undermined if we lose our focus or conviction, or fail to address the inequalities, many of which are fueled by stigma, discrimination, and punitive laws, that stand in our way.”
The US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, known as PEPFAR, reported that it supported antiretroviral treatment for more than 20 million men, women, and children as of September 30. This is an increase from 18.96 million compared to the fiscal year 2021.
About 64.7 million people received HIV testing services supported by the program, and 5.5 million babies were cared for to ensure they were born without HIV, according to the latest PEPFAR results.
President Joe Biden requested $850 million for HIV prevention and treatment programs in his 2023 budget and proposed the creation of a national PrEP program of nearly $10 billion aimed at ensuring prophylaxis and services for uninsured or underinsured individuals.
According to the president, the United States is close to eliminating HIV transmission. However, there are significant disparities in access to treatment, with Black and Hispanic individuals disproportionately affected by HIV.
Globally, progress toward ending AIDS has been uneven. Despite ambitious goals to end infection, there is still no vaccine or cure, although diagnosis has become more manageable and prevention more effective.
Source: CNN