President Barack Obama On Monday issued
his annual World AIDS Day proclamation.
December 1 has been designated as World
AIDS Day every year since 1988. World AIDS Day is dedicated to
raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic and mourn those lost to the
disease.
“On World AIDS Day, we remember those
who we have lost to HIV/AIDS, celebrate the triumphs earned through
the efforts of scores of advocates and providers, pledge our support
for those at risk for or living with HIV, and rededicate our talents
and efforts to achieving our goal of an AIDS-free generation,”
Obama said.
The president lauded the Affordable
Care Act (Obamacare) for allowing “more people to access coverage
for preventative services like HIV testing” and prohibiting
insurance companies from discriminating against individuals with
HIV/AIDS or any other pre-existing condition.
He also highlighted the goals of his
administration's National HIV/AIDS Strategy, which was released in
2010.
“Earlier this year, I signed an
Executive Order to update the Strategy through 2020, focusing on
expanding HIV testing and care, widening support for those living
with HIV to stay in comprehensive care, promoting universal viral
suppression among individuals infected with HIV, and increasing
access to preventive measures, including pre-exposure prophylaxis for
people at substantial risk of acquiring HIV,” Obama said.
The president also announced new
targets for the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR),
the U.S. initiative that reaches millions suffering from the disease,
primarily in Africa.
“This year, I announced new targets
for PEPFAR that aim to provide almost 13 million people with
life-saving treatment by the end of 2017,” Obama said. “The
United States is also committing resources to support PEPFAR’s work
to achieve a 40 percent decrease in HIV incidence among young women
and girls in the most vulnerable areas of sub-Saharan Africa.”
Obama concluded: “On this day, let us
pay tribute to those whom HIV/AIDS took from us too soon, and let us
recognize those who continue to fight for a world free from AIDS.
Let us also recognize researchers, providers, and advocates, who work
each day on behalf of people living with HIV, and in honor of the
precious lives we have lost to HIV. Together, we can forge a future
in which no person – here in America or anywhere in our world –
knows the pain or stigma caused by HIV/AIDS.”