Congressional HIV/AIDS Caucus Co-Chairs Recognize 32nd Annual World AIDS Day
Washington, D.C. – Reps. Barbara Lee (CA-13) and Jenniffer González (PR-At Large), co-chairs of the bipartisan Congressional HIV/AIDS Caucus, today released a statement marking December 1st as World AIDS Day.
The theme of the 32nd annual World AIDS Day is “Ending the HIV/AIDS Epidemic: Resilience & Impact,” which celebrates the achievements of the past four decades in the fight against HIV/AIDS, while recognizing the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and the strain on our global public health systems.
In addition to the coronavirus pandemic, 1.2 million people in the United States are living with HIV and there are almost 40,000 new diagnoses each year. Approximately 12.6 million people are living with HIV that have not received treatment globally. Also, just as the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed severe health disparities, the HIV and AIDS epidemic disproportionately impacts communities of color and LGBTQ communities.
“This year, as we mark the 32nd World AIDS Day, we are facing the unprecedented challenge of a global pandemic, which is overwhelming our global health systems and threatening the safety of communities around the world,” said Rep. Lee. “As we continue to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, it is more important than ever that we renew our commitment to combating HIV/AIDS, especially in communities most at risk.
“World AIDS Day is an opportunity to celebrate progress in the global fight against HIV/AIDS and also remember those who have lost their struggle against this disease, their families and loved ones, and the millions more who continue to live with and fight against it. I thank my HIV/AIDS Caucus Co-Chair Congresswoman González Colón for her leadership, and I am hopeful that our new Congress can work together to protect and expand these critical global public health programs to reach our shared goal of achieving an AIDS-free generation.”
"On World AIDS Day we acknowledge and celebrate the work that has been done to improve the lives of those living with the infection,” said Rep. González. “As co-chair of the HIV/AIDS caucus I am committed to continue the efforts to build awareness, educate on the virus and advance legislation to reach an AIDS free generation. I thank my colleague Rep. Barbara Lee for the bipartisan collaborative efforts to support this community in the challenging times we face with the COVID-19 pandemic."
Globally, efforts through PEPFAR and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria are reducing the burden of HIV/AIDS around the world. We have seen reductions in new HIV infections, including new HIV infections among children. According to UNAIDS, AIDS-related deaths have declined by 60% globally since the peak of the epidemic in 2004. In the United States, thanks to programs like Ryan White and the Minority AIDS Initiative, people are living longer with HIV and the rate of diagnoses have decreased.