World AIDS Day Is December 1st

A Time to Reflect & Recommit to Ending HIV

Washington DC… December 1st is World AIDS Day, a time to remember the over 42 million lives lost and to reaffirm our commitment to preventing future deaths and new infections, both worldwide and in the United States.

“Because of years of research and scientific advancements, we now have the tools to prevent and treat HIV and keep people living healthy and long lives,” said Carl Schmid, executive director of HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute. “Now is not the time to retreat on our commitment to protecting the health of our nation. President Trump initiated the Ending the HIV Epidemic initiative in his first term, which was sustained by President Biden and his administration.  Now we look forward to that same commitment from President Trump as he and his new administration seek to make our country healthier, bolster prevention, and address chronic diseases.”

In his 2019 State of the Union address, Trump pledged to “eliminate the HIV epidemic in the United States within ten years.” This led to the Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) initiative, which accelerates HIV testing, treatment, and prevention programs, including scaling up PrEP, which are drugs that prevent HIV. 

The EHE initiative builds on long-standing bipartisan prevention and treatment programs, including CDC’s surveillance and testing programs and HRSA’s Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, which provide care and treatment to over 550,000 low-income people living with HIV. 

Ending HIV requires a comprehensive healthcare system that includes robust private insurance, Medicaid and Medicare programs, upholds protections against discrimination, and combats stigma and disparities.

Despite the program’s success in reducing new HIV transmissions and increasing the number of people in care and treatment, House Republicans have proposed to eliminate funding for the EHE program in the last two years.

While the government plays a vital role in addressing infectious diseases, such as HIV, the business community has also stepped up. The U.S. Business Action to End HIV has united over 70 companies to educate their employees, reduce stigma, and advocate for policy solutions to support HIV eradication efforts.

This collaborative effort aligns with the theme of this year’s World AIDS Day: “Collective Action: Sustain and Accelerate HIV Progress.”

“It will take the collective action by the HIV community, state, local and federal governments, businesses, and others to end HIV,” concluded Schmid. “Now is not the time to retreat. On the contrary, we must sustain and accelerate the progress made under both the Trump and Biden administrations.”  

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The HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute is a national, non-profit organization whose mission is to promote quality and affordable healthcare for people living with or at risk of HIV, hepatitis, and other serious and chronic health conditions.