World AIDS Day

Taking the E out of PEPFAR: Commemorating World AIDS Day 2013

Carol Bales — Mon, 25 Nov 2013 19:56:26 +0000

PEPFAR. To me, these six letters symbolize one of the most significant global health commitments in history. The US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) is the largest response by one country to a single health epidemic. Over the past eight years at IntraHealth International, I have supported a range of PEPFAR-funded country programs that have led to improving the lives of millions. And I have observed the United States’ cornerstone HIV/AIDS global development program transform from an emergency response to one that encompasses proven prevention and treatment programs, harnesses technology and innovation, and supports ownership at the country level. So as we commemorate World AIDS Day, I want to reflect on the progress we’ve made and contemplate that “E” in PEPFAR.

Author's name:

Amanda Puckett

Publication Date:

November 2013

Turning Despair into Hope (and Not Just on World AIDS Day)

Sarah Dwyer — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 21:53:45 +0000

“Don’t write about this subject only on World AIDS Day,” said a colleague. She had just returned from the International AIDS Conference and was eager to share what she’d learned.

She makes a good point. People living with HIV do so every day, not just on December 1^st.

This World AIDS Day, we celebrate the health workers who support people living with HIV every single day of the year. With every sunrise and sunset, people with HIV need support and care to live positively.

Author's name:

Sarah Dwyer and Rachel Deussom

Publication Date:

November 2012

Celebrating World AIDS Day: Getting to Zero

Carol Bales — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 14:06:53 +0000

Every December 1st, I pull out a small red ribbon and attach it to my sweater to commemorate World AIDS Day. To me, this is a very important day to raise awareness about the HIV/AIDS epidemic and reflect on both where we have made achievements in battling the epidemic and where we really need to persevere to do better. This year through 2015, World AIDS Day has a special theme: "Getting to zero: Zero new HIV infections. Zero discrimination. Zero AIDS-related deaths."

People with HIV are living longer
Though gains have been made in reducing the number of new HIV infections, there is still a significant portion of our global population living with AIDS. According to UNAIDS, an estimated 34 million people were living with HIV in 2010, an increase of 17% from 2001. These numbers tell several stories.

Author's name:

Amanda Puckett

Publication Date:

December 2011