34th World AIDS Day
The following press statement was issued by US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken on December 1, 2022 to mark the 34th World AIDS Day.
World AIDS Day reminds us that HIV and AIDS remain a threat to global health and health security. With 650,000 deaths worldwide from AIDS-related illnesses in the past year, we as the US government remain committed to working with our partners to bring the HIV/AIDS pandemic to an end.
The data released today by PEPFAR –President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) have been released show that we are making steady progress in closing the gaps that particularly threaten the most vulnerable groups. In the almost 20 years since the program was launched, PEPFAR has saved 25 million lives. PEPFAR’s success is the result of almost twenty years of bipartisan support under various Presidents and also from the US Congress. This unwavering support is reflected in the fact that PEPFAR has raised more than $100 billion to help fight HIV and AIDS worldwide. We will maintain our commitment to support this work to meet the goal of ending AIDS by 2030.
Another basis of PEPFAR are partnerships. Since its inception, the program has built global partnerships with multilateral and public-private organizations, communities, governments and the private sector.
Together we have taken clear measures that secure and further develop the global progress against HIV/AIDS that has already been achieved. We will continue to focus on these targeted actions while responding to other health crises around the world. Since 2020, we have been supporting, among other things, the fight against COVID-19 in PEPFAR countries by using the stable public health and clinical platforms created by PEPFAR.
The theme of this year’s World AIDS Day is “We Challenge Ourselves: End HIV Through Equality.” This motto emphasizes accountability and action, and affirms the US government’s commitment to ending HIV/AIDS at home and around the world , by focusing on fighting inequality and promoting equality, and mobilizing the world to end HIV as a global health threat by 2030.
As the 20th anniversary of the PEPFAR Initiative approaches, the US Government will remain committed to supporting the global fight against HIV/AIDS in line with PEPFAR’s 5-year strategy unveiled today, working closely with our partners who are also committed committed to saving lives and ending this pandemic.
Original text: 34th Commemoration of World AIDS Day