December 2, 2011

We Can Win this Fight Thursday was World AIDS Day, which commemorates not only those who have been lost in the fight against AIDS but also the progress the world is making in confronting the global pandemic. President Obama took yesterday morning to speak at “The Beginning of the End of AIDS,” an event hosted by The ONE Campaign and (RED), where he outlined the progress the Administration has made in combatting the AIDS pandemic, and restated his commitment to fighting the scourge of AIDS: We can beat this disease. We can win this fight. We just have to keep at it, steady, persistent — today, tomorrow, every day until we get to zero. And as long as I have the honor of being your President, that’s what this administration is going to keep doing. That’s my pledge. That’s my commitment to all of you.   Watch the video and check out the fact sheet. By the Numbers: $335 Since 2003, when the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief began, the cost per year per patient for AIDS treatment has fallen from more than $1,100 to $335 in 2011. Highlights Open for Questions: The Beginning of the End of AIDS After the President’s speech, Gayle Smith, Senior Director for Development and Democracy at the White House, and Ambassador Eric Goosby, U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator, took questions via Twitter and Facebook on the global AIDS pandemic, and what the Obama Administration is doing to bring it to an end. Statement from HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius on World AIDS Day This World AIDS Day is particularly poignant because this year we have marked the 30th anniversary of the first reports of AIDS. Today, as we remember those we have lost, we also celebrate the progress we have made and look expectantly to the future. American Leadership to Reach an AIDS-Free Generation Today President Obama was part of a very special World AIDS Day event. It is a day for solemn observance, to remember all those who have been lost to this disease over 30 years, and those still living with HIV today. Yet today’s event was a joyous occasion as well, as it celebrated all those who have done – and are doing – so much to respond to HIV/AIDS. From the Archives: President Obama Says, “Get Tested” Today is World AIDS Day. In the United States, roughly 1.2 million Americans are living with HIV and about 50,000 become newly infected each year. Since the beginning of the epidemic 30 years ago, more than 600,000 Americans have lost their lives to HIV and AIDS. Today, there are more than 200,000 Americans living with HIV who don’t know it. Regular testing is important: If people know they are HIV positive, they can take steps to protect themselves and their partners, and live longer and healthier lives. Stay Connected Facebook Twitter YouTube Flickr iTunes Contact the White House The White House • 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW • Washington, DC 20500 202-456-1111