Washington - Obama Administration officials and leaders in the Aids community are expected to speak at a World Aids Day event at the White House later today to reflect on the lessons learned and the path forward in the fight against HIV and Aids in the United States and around the world.
The White House World Aids Day event will include keynote remarks as well as a panel discussion with HIV and Aids researchers and advocates.
Throughout his career in public service, President Barack Obama has been committed to fighting HIV and Aids in both the US and around the world.
With the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) is a foundation, the President put forward an ambitious $63 billion Global Health Initiative (GHI) to combat HIV and Aids, address other health challenges and assist partner countries to strengthen their health systems and build capacity to provide services sustainably.
Through the GHI, the Obama's aim is to ensure programs have maximum impact, such as saving lives not simply spending dollars.
Since taking office, the number of those on antiretroviral treatment has nearly doubled to 3.2 million - up from 1.7 million in 2008, and under the GHI, the US continues to be the global leader in funding for HIV and Aids.
The President proposed the largest request to date for PEPFAR for the 2011 financial year. Additionally, in October, the administration announced an unprecedented multi-year pledge of $4 billion for 2011-2013 to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
This pledge represents a 38 percent increase in US support for the Global Fund, and is in addition to more than $5.1 billion provided to the fund to date.
Domestically, the Office of National AIDS Policy released the first comprehensive National HIV/AIDS Strategy and Federal Implementation Plan for the United States with three key goals: reducing the number of new infections; increasing access to care and optimizing health outcomes for people living with HIV; and reducing HIV-related health disparities.
The event is scheduled to kick off at 1.30pm local time.
