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On the Path to an AIDS-Free Generation

Proven science, smart investments, and shared responsibility


“While the finish line is not yet in sight, we know we can get there, because now we know the route we need to take.” --Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, November 2011


For 30 years CDC has played a leading role in achieving scientific progress and translating science into action to save millions of lives in the global fight against HIV/AIDS.

Recent scientific advances now offer a historic new opportunity – using existing tools – to dramatically drive down the rate of new HIV infections and virtually eliminate infections in babies and children. The science shows that using proven prevention tools, we can reduce the number of new infections, increase the number of people receiving treatment, and eventually start to treat more people than are being infected each year. Instead of falling behind the pace of the epidemic, we will, for the first time, get ahead of it.

An AIDS-free generation

Child Smiling - Photo: David SnyderPhoto: David Snyder

In her speech on November 8, 2011, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called on the United States and other countries to use recent scientific breakthroughs to create an AIDS-free generation. An AIDS-free generation means that

  • Virtually no children are born infected with the HIV virus

  • As these children become teens and adults, they are at far lower risk of becoming infected than they would be today, thanks to a wide range of HIV prevention tools

  • If they do acquire the HIV virus, they have access to treatment that helps prevent them from developing AIDS and passing the virus to others

AIDS-Free Generation Fact Sheet
Download our AIDS-Free Generation Fact Sheet.

This exciting research news provided the impetus for Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s call to action in November 2011 for pursuing an AIDS-free generation (see sidebar) and President Obama’s announcement of the accelerated treatment goal and “the beginning of the end of AIDS” in December 2011 on World AIDS Day.

Scientific advances guide strategy

Research shows that a combination of three key interventions can dramatically drive down the rate of new infections:

Pills icon


Scaling-up treatment
of HIV-positive persons

("treatment as prevention")

PMTCT


Preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV

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Expanding voluntary medical
male circumcision

When used in combination with each other, along with HIV testing and counseling, condoms and other prevention tools, these interventions put us on a plausible path for eliminating new infections.

Through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the United States is working to support an optimal mix of these three prevention interventions. As the primary science-based public health and disease prevention agency and with longstanding, trusted relationships with foreign Ministries of Health, CDC plays a key role in implementing this strategy.

Science must continue to guide these prevention efforts. More research is being conducted to identify the most effective means to scale-up interventions in different regions and countries. The data will help the U.S. government and partner countries strengthen their efforts to prevent new infections and save even more lives.

Smart investments for impact and efficiency

CDC’s strategy through PEPFAR is to apply scientific evidence and extensive programmatic experience to support the highest impact interventions and deliver them effectively and efficiently to maximize health outcomes. Annual costs for treating patients through PEPFAR have dropped dramatically, from more than $1100 per patient in 2004 when the program began to $335 in fiscal year 2010. This efficiency gain translates into more lives being saved, more productive adults, and more stable economies for countries. PEPFAR investments are also being leveraged as a strong platform for the U.S. Global Health Initiative, which supports one-stop clinics offering an array of health services while driving down costs, driving up impact, and saving more lives.

Shared responsibility for an AIDS-free generation

Investments in global health are a pillar of American leadership, advancing our national interests, making other countries more stable and the United States more secure. The global AIDS response is a shared responsibility and President Obama and Secretary Clinton have called on the world to join the United States in this undertaking.

Countries must manage and lead their own national AIDS programs for long-term sustainability. CDC is working with partner countries to build their capacity to lead their national responses and increase their own AIDS funding. Through its in-country presence, CDC provides critical leadership for implementing and transitioning sustainable programs to country ownership.

CDC’s role in transitioning HIV/AIDS programs to country ownership

CDC works side-by-side with Ministries of Health in 43 countries to build their capacity to lead and manage their national HIV/AIDS programs by:

  • Providing direct technical assistance and knowledge transfer through longstanding relationships with Ministries of Health. This in-country presence has resulted in increased performance, capacity development, country ownership, and public health impact.

  • Building a trained local workforce through daily mentoring to nearly 1,000 locally employed staff by CDC’s highly trained clinicians, epidemiologists, public health advisors, health scientists, and laboratory scientists. CDC also provides training programs and funding to local educational institutions to establish a pipeline of qualified, well-trained public health professionals.

CDC Global HIV/AIDS Milestones on the Path to an AIDS-Free Generation



 
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