Not
very long ago, it would have been hard to imagine that there would ever
be an AIDS-free generation. Now we’re moving toward it with remarkable
partnerships all over the world.
This year, 13 million people
around the world are receiving life-saving AIDS drugs and treatment,
including 8.2 million with access to lower prices as a result of
negotiations by the Clinton Health Access Initiative. Mother to child
transmissions are down in many countries, more children are on
treatment, and health systems in developing nations are being improved
to advance both prevention and treatment. None of this could have been
achieved without the work and commitment of caring people around the
globe, including colleagues and friends who died when Malaysia Airlines
Flight 17 crashed in July en route to the 20th International AIDS
Conference in Melbourne.
But there is still so much to do. This
year roughly 1.5 million individuals died of HIV-related illnesses, and
over 2 million were newly infected.
UNAIDS launched new targets in
2014 – that by 2020, 90% of all people living with HIV will know their
status, 90% of those diagnosed will receive sustained antiretroviral
therapy, and 90% of those receiving antiretroviral therapy will have
viral suppression. While these are ambitious goals, we believe they can
be achieved and will remain committed to doing our part.
The theme
of this year’s World AIDS Day is right on target: “Focus, Partner,
Achieve: an AIDS-free generation.” If we remain steadfast in our
dedication to finding smart ways to work together, we will prevail.
Hillary Clinton
