World AIDS Day was first observed in 1988, a decade in which the average life expectancy for someone with AIDS was three years after diagnosis. Today, 36 years later, thanks to tireless efforts, AIDS-related deaths have been cut by almost two-thirds, and new infections reduced by more than half, saving millions of lives worldwide, including many babies born free from HIV.
As I prepare to leave Congress at the end of the year, I take pride in having authored or co-authored every major piece of HIV/AIDS legislation, developed a global framework that transformed global health, and remained committed to fighting AIDS. Yet, there’s still more to do to ensure the defeat of HIV.
In 2000, I co-authored the Global AIDS and Tuberculosis Relief Act, establishing a framework for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. The following year, I began working with President George W. Bush on the groundbreaking global AIDS initiative, PEPFAR, which has saved over 25 million lives and provided care for over 7 million children orphaned by AIDS.
Almost a decade later, in 2010, I worked with President Obama to draft the National HIV/AIDS Strategy to confront the HIV epidemic. The collaborative efforts over the years showcase the power of advocacy, legislation, and global commitment in combating AIDS and improving health outcomes.
Collection
[
|
...
]