2013 World AIDS Day

December 1st was the 25th Anniversary of World AIDS Day. There is much to be grateful for over the last 25 years. It is no longer a death sentence. But realities such as quality of life, mortality and morbidity measures mean very little if you are living with HIV and have no idea. The CDC estimates there are nearly 20% of those with the disease who have no idea. Get yourself tested!

If you have no place to go for your HIV test, I would invite you to come see me at UCF's Wellness and Health Promotion Services office. I will be more than happy to test you. It's a simple oral swab; no needles! The best part is, it's free!!

So when you're making out that "New Year's Resolution list; why not put "be responsible for and care more about my sexual wellness?"

To those that continue to live with and who are impacted by HIV and AIDS, be strong, live each day with purpose and intention. I need your voices in this army.

The next couple of articles speak to "Zero New HIV Infections" campaign.  The first one is an article from Dr. Ronald Valdiserri, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health, Infectious Diseases, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in which he directly speaks to the challenges in achieving "zero new HIV infections."

The final entry, AMERICAN LEADERSHIP TO REACH AN AIDS-FREE GENERATION, reflects on President Obama's continued commitment to the National HIV/AIDS strategy originally created by President Bush and handed off to President Obama.

THE CHALLENGE OF ACHIEVING AN AIDS-FREE GENERATION

World AIDS Day will be celebrated on December 1. 

The World AIDS Campaign sponsors this day, which promotes an international commitment to fighting AIDS through policy, practice, and resource allocation. Dr. Ronald Valdiserri, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health, Infectious Diseases, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is a nationally recognized public health physician who has worked tirelessly to promote sound public health approaches to HIV/AIDS. 

In this column, Dr. Valdiserri provides insight into the challenges of achieving an AIDS-free generation. For more information on World AIDS Day, please visit http://www.worldaidscampaign.org/world-aids-day.

AMERICAN LEADERSHIP TO REACH AN AIDS-FREE GENERATION

December 1, 2011 • By Gayle Smith, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Development and Democracy and Eric Goosby, Ambassador, U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator

Cross-posted from The White House Blog - See more at: http://blog.aids.gov/2011/12/american-leadership-to-reach-an-aids-free-generation.html#sthash.x86Nqu32.dpuf

- See more at: http://blog.aids.gov/2011/12/american-leadership-to-reach-an-aids-free-generation.html#sthash.x86Nqu32.dpuf

Today President Obama was part of a very special World AIDS Day event. It is a day for solemn observance, to remember all those who have been lost to this disease over 30 years, and those still living with HIV today.

Yet today’s event was a joyous occasion as well, as it celebrated all those who have done – and are doing – so much to respond to HIV/AIDS. Despite all the challenges, the history of this virus is also one of remarkable people coming together to make a difference.

The PEPFAR program – a program created by one president and handed off to another – has benefited from widespread support, and today’s event demonstrated American unity in this fight. The ONE Campaign and Product (RED), who have done so much to get people involved, were our hosts. President Obama was joined by President George W. Bush and President Clinton, each of whom played key roles in the AIDS fight while in office and continue their efforts today. Bono and Alicia Keys represented the artistic community that has been so important in the response, while Kay Warren represented the commitment of people of faith. Senator Marco Rubio and Representative Barbara Lee represented both the critical role of Congress in this effort and the power of bipartisanship of our work. The African leadership that has played such a vital role was exemplified by Dr. Patricia Nkansah-Asamoah of Ghana and Florence Ngobeni of South Africa.  And last but by no means least, many of the advocates and practitioners from the AIDS and global health communities were in attendance, making clear the fact that every individual’s contribution makes a difference.

As President Obama said in his remarks and his World AIDS Day Proclamation, scientific advances have provided us with a unique opportunity for dramatic gains in the global response to HIV/AIDS. The concept of ‘combination prevention,’ through which we rely on multiple prevention interventions tailored to needs in the countries where we work, is at the center of this effort. The President outlined plans to expand our combination prevention work, including prevention of mother-to-child transmission, voluntary medical male circumcision, and condoms.

Among the most exciting new scientific discoveries is that antiretroviral treatment can reduce HIV transmission by as much as 96 percent. The U.S. now supports treatment for nearly 4 million people through PEPFAR – and the President electrified the audience by announcing an historic increase in PEPFAR’s treatment goal, to support for 6 million people by the end of 2013. The impact of this commitment will be extraordinary, for those on treatment and for the many more who will benefit from its preventive effect.

As President Obama made clear, the fight against global AIDS is a shared responsibility, not one the U.S. can meet alone. This week he asked the leaders of the donor and partner nations that are standing up in this fight, to join this effort and redouble their own efforts.  As we move forward, we will work with a growing number of partners as the global community joins the U.S. in a heightened focus on this fight.

The American people can be very proud of the leadership our nation has shown through 30 years of AIDS. On World AIDS Day 2011, it is clear that that legacy of leadership continues.

Gayle Smith is the Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Development and Democracy at the White House. Ambassador Goosby is the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator.

- See more at: http://blog.aids.gov/2011/12/american-leadership-to-reach-an-aids-free-generation.html#sthash.x86Nqu32.dpuf