HIV/AIDS State & USAID

Description

HIV/AIDS programs collaborate and partner with host country governments, civil society, multilateral institutions, private sector groups, and other stakeholders to combat the AIDS epidemic. The President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) targets investments through data-driven decision making that strategically focuses resources on specific geographic areas and populations.

What does it buy?

Programs support multi-sectoral responses to HIV/AIDS to reduce the widespread impacts of the epidemic. Funds also provide technical assistance and HIV prevention, testing, and treatment. Further, funds support research, development, and dissemination of new technologies, including microbicides and an HIV vaccine.

Why is it important?

• As of July 2020, U.S. assistance provided life-saving antiretroviral treatment to more than 16.5 million patients.
• Nearly 40% of people living with HIV globally still do not have access to the antiretroviral therapy they need to survive and thrive.
• In 2019, PEPFAR supported HIV testing services for nearly 79.6 million people.
• Through the PEPFAR-led DREAMS (Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored, and Safe) public-private partnership, new HIV diagnoses among adolescent girls and young women have declined by an average of 25% in nearly all implementation regions.
• As of September 30, 2019, PEPFAR supported training for over 280,000 new health care workers to deliver HIV and other health services.
• More than 2.6 million babies are born HIV-free to HIV-positive mothers, who have been kept healthy and alive to protect and nurture them.
• Approximately 38 million people are living with HIV, 1.8 million of whom are children under the age of 15.

Why should Americans care?

• This investment helps countries develop the capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to other infectious disease outbreaks—countries where PEPFAR works show more significant increases in worker productivity and economic development than other nations.
• Countries with HIV/AIDS programs experience improvement in government effectiveness and rule of law.

What more could be done?

• Experts estimate that there is a 20% gap in global investment needed to meet the 90-90-90 targets adopted by the U.S. government. The 90-90-90 targets call for 90% of HIV-positive people to be identified, 90% of those to be initiated on treatment, and 90% of those to be virally suppressed.
• Additional resources would allow PEPFAR to expand HIV prevention programs, particularly for young women under age 25 and men under age 30.
• Further support for HIV/AIDS research is essential for discovering an HIV vaccine and cure. New research is crucial for those living with and at risk for HIV/AIDS around the world, as well as for the 1.2 million people living with HIV in the United States.