Administrator Samantha Power on World AIDS Day 2021

Today, the U.S. Agency for International Development commemorates World AIDS Day. For eighteen years, USAID has played a critical role in implementing the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which has helped save more than 21 million lives, and we are currently supporting life-saving HIV treatment for nearly seven million people around the world. We are committed to ending the global HIV epidemic through equitable and inclusive access to services for all in need.

Adolescent girls and young women, and key populations most at risk of contracting HIV, such as sex workers, transgender people, men who have sex with men, incarcerated people, and people who inject drugs face significant barriers to accessing and receiving health care. This year, USAID and our partners supported nearly 2 million members of these populations with life-saving HIV-prevention and treatment services. The COVID-19 pandemic has created a challenging environment for providing health services, especially for marginalized people. To reach those most in need, we have successfully implemented innovations like telehealth visits and multi-month dispensing of medication, and continued to support community-led programming to offer HIV services in a respectful and safe manner. Since the onset of COVID-19, these innovations were able to spare people over 53 million clinic visits for medication pickups, while providing them the same level of protection.

USAID remains steadfast in our commitment to ending the global HIV epidemic in partnership with host governments, multilateral organizations, the private sector, civil society, over 150 local partner organizations, and the more than 37 million people who are living with HIV. Together with our partners, and the global HIV community, USAID will continue to provide coordinated, cost-effective, inclusive, and innovative programming that is more accessible, more equitable, and more responsive to health threats.