Every December 1st, the U.S. Government commemorates World AIDS Day by reflecting on its response to the global fight against HIV/AIDS and honoring the millions of people who have died of AIDS-related illness worldwide. The U.S. government’s theme for World AIDS Day 2022 is Putting Ourselves to the Test: Achieving Equity to End HIV, which emphasizes accountability and action.

The U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, or PEPFAR, is the largest commitment by any nation to address a single disease in history, saving 21 million lives, preventing millions of HIV infections, and accelerating progress toward controlling the global HIV/AIDS pandemic in more than 50 countries.. 

Through >$1 billion annually in health systems strengthening investments across 55 countries, PEPFAR supports 70K+ clinics (incl. 3K labs), 290K+ health care workers, robust health care supply chains & strong data systems, which help countries fight HIV. 

But the good results don’t stop there: PEPFAR-supported public health, clinical, and laboratory platforms have helped countries to keep Ebola virus disease, H1N1, and other deadly diseases from raging out of control – and are significantly aiding the COVID-19 response as well. 

We cannot achieve our goal to end HIV/AIDS if we deny people’s human rights and their sexual and reproductive rights, or if we allow discrimination against people living with HIV or those most vulnerable to acquiring HIV. And it is precisely in this light that one can start to see the full scope of PEPFAR, and the far-reaching and sustainable results it is achieving. 

USAID has been implementing PEPFAR programs for almost 20 years using evidence-based approaches, and delivering real, palpable results. In Rwanda, the largest issue in this area remains reaching the last mile. Here, USAID -through PEPFAR-  has invested a total of $35,379,294 in fiscal year 2022 alone. With this funding, USAID was able to provide support to 203,321 orphans and vulnerable children, and to 82,500 at-risk adolescent girls and young women, who were reached through the DREAMS program. DREAMS provides a comprehensive, multi-sectoral package of core interventions to address key factors that make girls and young women particularly vulnerable to HIV. 

Our activities throughout Rwanda include education, screening and testing, providing HIV commodities, raising awareness in the communities, care and support for people living with HIV,  providing vocational training for adolescents and young adults  living with HIV or at-risk, and helping them find meaningful employment. This support is evidence-based, thorough, and deeply impactful. 

USAID also procured antiretroviral medications to serve over 108,277 patients (covering about 51% of all persons living with HIV) for one year, kits for voluntary male circumcision to serve 66,000 beneficiaries, and purchased pre-exposure prophylaxis for nearly 7,5000 young women at high risk of HIV transmission. Further, USAID ensured the effective distribution and warehousing of all USG HIV commodities, meeting more than 50% of the nationwide requirements.

On this World AIDS Day, we reflect on our achievements, but also take a look at the challenges and the work that is ahead of us. Two great endeavors await us: an HIV vaccine that is in the works, and a new plan, proposing to end HIV/AIDS by 2030. 

To read a story about a Rwandan girl car mechanic, a DREAMS program graduate, click here.

Click here (link is external)to read more about the USAID-supported scientists who are developing an HIV vaccine.

To read more on the PEPFAR new strategic direction, click here.

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