World Aids Day 2010

World Aids Day 2010 logo

December 1st , 2010, is World AIDS Day.  On this day we honor the millions of people around the world  who have been impacted by the AIDS epidemic -- those who are living with HIV, those we have lost, and the caregivers, families, friends and communities who have provided support.

Building on the success of the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and other global health programs, President Obama has put forward an ambitious Global Health Initiative (GHI), which supports countries around the world to improve the health of their people.   Launched in 2003to combat global AIDS, PEPFAR is the largest commitment in history by any nation to combat a single disease.

Globally, about 5.2 million people in low- and middle-income countries were receiving treatment at the end of 2009, up from 4 million the previous year.  Going forward as part of GHI, in addition to doubling the
number of babies born HIV-free, the U.S plans to support the prevention of more than 12 million new HIV infections, HIV treatment for more than four million people, and care for more than 12 million people, including five million children and orphans.

As the United States moves forward with PEPFAR and GHI, we are proud to be supporting other countries as they take a leadership role in their own fights against HIV/AIDS.  Working together, we can build on our successes to save even more lives.