Global HIV/AIDS

World AIDS Day 2012

Each year on December 1, CDC and its offices around the globe observe World AIDS Day to raise awareness of the global impact of HIV/AIDS. The first cases of HIV/AIDS were reported over 30 years ago in the June 5, 1981 issue of CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Since that time, people living with HIV/AIDS, researchers, health professionals, non-profit organizations, governments and activists across the globe have worked together to combat the HIV/AIDS epidemic. On World AIDS Day, we recognize our successes to-date and commit to saving more lives.

World AIDS Day Updates

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton unveiled the PEPFAR Blueprint: Creating an AIDS-free Generation that provides a roadmap for how the U.S. government will work to help achieve an AIDS-free generation. Watch a replay of the event at www.state.gov
View the CDC World AIDS Day feature article.
Read the article published in the November 30 issue of CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) on the progress made through CDC/PEPFAR in scaling-up voluntary medical male circumcision activities for HIV prevention in Kenya, a remarkable demonstration of translating research into public health practice

Using Science to Save Lives

CDC uses science to save lives and, through PEPFAR, has helped support:^*

Life-saving antiretroviral treatment for more than 5.1 million people (as of September 2012)
HIV testing and counseling for more than 11 million pregnant women
Antiretroviral drug prophylaxis to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission for more than 750,000 HIV-positive pregnant women, allowing approximately 230,000 infants to be born HIV-free
Care and support for nearly 153 million people, including more than 4.5 million orphans and vulnerable children
HIV counseling and testing for more than 46.9 million people, providing a critical entry point to prevention, treatment, and care
• Medical circumcision procedures for approximately 2 million men (cumulatively through September 2012)

^* Fiscal year 2012 unless otherwise indicated

SOURCE - PEPFAR

Working Together for an AIDS-Free Generation – the 2012 World AIDS Day Theme

As a science-based public health and disease prevention agency, CDC provides support to more than 70 countries to strengthen their national HIV programs and build sustainable public health systems through the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). CDC works side-by-side with Ministries of Health in countries, the World Health Organization, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and with other partners to implement sustainable HIV/AIDS interventions, and to measure their effectiveness in reducing infections and deaths from HIV/AIDS. (See timeline, CDC Global HIV/AIDS Milestones.)

Recent scientific advances offer a historic new opportunity to dramatically drive down the rate of new HIV infections and put us on a path to an AIDS-free generation. PEPFAR’s theme for World AIDS Day 2012 is Working Together for an AIDS-Free Generation, and CDC is proud to support Ministries of Health and our many partners as they lead the fight against HIV/AIDS in their countries. By working together for an AIDS-free generation, we can build on our successes to save even more lives, and to allow more people to live longer and healthier lives.

CDC World AIDS Day Activities Around the Globe

CDC Nigeria Promotes World AIDS Day to Youth in Abuja Through AIDS-Free Generation Rap Contest
In recognition of World AIDS Day, CDC Nigeria, the U.S.-Nigeria PEPFAR Team, U.S. Mission to Nigeria, and partners are working with secondary schools in Abuja to host a youth rap contest focusing on the theme of an "AIDS-Free Generation." Students from these schools will use HIV/AIDS educational information to create rap songs that express their understanding and enthusiasm for an "AIDS-Free Generation" in Nigeria. They will compete for prizes and recognition at a host school. The U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Terence P. McCulley, will serve as a judge for the contest. The event also will feature a program designed to educate youth and their parents about HIV/AIDS prevention. Anthonia Aina, of CDC-Nigeria, will serve as emcee. The U.S. Embassy to Abuja will Tweet live from the event.

CDC-Kenya Involved in Several World AIDS Day Activities
CDC-Kenya will be participating in the National AIDS Control Council (NACC) World AIDS Day celebration in Nakuru, Kenya, on Saturday, Dec 1st. World AIDS Day celebrations will be held in all 47 Counties but the celebrations in Nakuru are the official Government of Kenya activity.

Several CDC-Kenya staff will participate in the locally led Kisumu World AIDS Marathon. The marathon has taken place in Kisumu since 2006 and supports both the Children’s Playground and St. Clare’s Orphanage in Kisumu, Kenya. Runners can register for the half-marathon, full-marathon, or can form a relay team for either event.