US will no longer commemorate World Aids Day, reports say

"The state department has directed its employees and grant recipients not to use US government funds to mark the event which falls annually on 1 December and not to promote the day publicly. The news was first reported by the journalist Emily Bass and confirmed in an email viewed by the New York Times. Employees and grantees could still tout the work on Aids being done through various programs to counter this dangerous disease and other infectious diseases around the world, the email reportedly said."

"But they should refrain from publicly promoting World Aids Day through any communication channels, including social media, media engagements, speeches or other public-facing messaging. The email also reportedly said the government's policy is to refrain from messaging on any commemorative days, including World AIDS Day, even though Donald Trump has issued proclamations for dozens of other observances, including World Intellectual Property Day and National Manufacturing Day. An awareness day is not a strategy, a state department spokesperson, Tommy Piggott, told the New York Times."

"Every year since 1988, the US has marked 1 December as World Aids Day to honor those who have lost their lives to the disease, to recognize and highlight efforts to contain the epidemic, and to raise awareness among the general public. Last year, in a cermony on the South Lawn, Joe Biden hosted the first White House display of Aids memorial quilt panels memorializing more than 110,000 lives lost."

The State Department directed employees and grant recipients not to use US government funds to mark World AIDS Day or to promote the day publicly on December 1. Staff and grantees may continue to describe AIDS-related programs and attend related events, but they must refrain from public-facing promotion across social media, media engagements, speeches, or other channels. The policy advises refraining from messaging on any commemorative days, despite presidential proclamations for other observances. The United States has observed World AIDS Day annually since 1988 to honor lives lost and highlight containment and awareness efforts. The administration has cancelled foreign aid programs combating HIV/AIDS and scrapped research and prevention resources.

Read at www.theguardian.com