HIV and AIDS Timeline

Since the inception of its HIV and AIDS program in 1986, USAID has played a leading role in averting the global AIDS crisis. Today, with more than 34 million people living with or affected by HIV and AIDS, USAID continues its technical leadership as a key partner in the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the largest and most diverse HIV and AIDS prevention, care, and treatment initiative in the world.

Chart the course of USAID's work in HIV and AIDS through this interactive timeline marking major milestones in addressing the crisis over the past 25+ years.

1981 - The CDC issues first warnings of illnesses later determined to be AIDS related; this is referred to as the beginning of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.</p> <p>1984 - A virus identified and isolated by the Pasteur and National Cancer Institutes is proven to cause AIDS; it is later named HIV.<br /> WHO reports more than 20,000 cases of AIDS; rates of infection increase rapidly and numbers are predicted to multiply.</p> <p>1986 - WHO establishes the Global Programme on AIDS.<br /> USAID officially embarks on a mission to fight HIV/AIDS and establishes its first program with $2 million.</p> <p>1987 - USAID Administrator Peter McPherson formally approves USAID?s AIDS policy. AIDSCOM and AIDSTECH contracts are awarded; the Agency?s HIV/AIDS funding levels reach $16.9 million.<br /> AIDSCOM supports mass media campaigns, condom social marketing, and peer education for young people globally.<br /> AIDSTECH supports HIV prevention programs for high-risk populations and programs to improve blood screening and transfusion practices.<br /> The FDA approves Zidovudine, or AZT, the first antiretroviral drug.</p> <p>1988 - USAID?s Demographic and Health Surveys begin to collect HIV/AIDS data.<br /> WHO declares December 1 World AIDS Day.</p> <p>1990 - USAID establishes a specialized AIDS Division in the Global Health Bureau; it serves as a centralized support center for field programs.</p> <p>1991 - USAID launches AIDS Control and Prevention; at the time, it is the largest HIV/AIDS control and prevention program of its kind. Over its lifetime, the project works with 300 partners ??in 42 countries. </p> <p>1993 - USAID becomes a founding member of the International HIV/AIDS Alliance to support community action on AIDS ??in the developing world.</p> <p>1995 - The FDA approves the first protease inhibitors, starting a new era for antiretroviral therapy.<br /> The White House convenes its first conference on HIV/AIDS.</p> <p>1996 - UNAIDS begins its operations.</p> <p>1997 - USAID, with UNAIDS and UNICEF, releases ?Children on ??the Brink,? the first in a series of reports on children ??orphaned by AIDS.<br /> USAID launches IMPACT, which covers full continuum of care and becomes the cornerstone of the Agency?s response to the epidemic. Over the next decade, the program grows to $441 million and expands the Agency?s portfolio to 75 countries globally, working with more than 1,500 local organizations.<br /> While ramping up IMPACT, USAID launches AIDSMARK to expand social marketing using private sector strategies to promote behavior change, condoms, and HIV testing.</p> <p>1998 - USAID receives an additional $10 million to provide support to orphans and vulnerable children, bringing total HIV/AIDS funding levels to $125 million.<br /> USAID examines early studies showing positive effects of male circumcision and begins exploring the acceptability, feasibility, safety, and cost-effectiveness of ??the intervention, and identifies ??the need for pilot programs.</p> <p>2000 - USAID launches the regional HIV/AIDS program for Southern Africa, home to 70 percent of adults and 80 percent of children living with HIV/AIDS globally.<br /> USAID launches the first programs for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV with the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, training health workers, renovating clinics, and recommending policy.<br /> Congress enacts the Global AIDS & TB Relief Act, authorizing $600 million for the global effort.</p> <p>2001 - As AIDS cases continue to soar, the pandemic?s potentially devastating implications for all health planning and development are recognized.<br /> USAID announces its partnership with the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, which is committed to developing AIDS vaccines that are safe, effective, and accessible to everyone. This partnership continues to thrive today.</p> <p>2002 - USAID upgrades the HIV/AIDS Division to a full office: The Office ??of HIV/AIDS in the Global Health Bureau is officially born.<br /> The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria begins operations.<br /> President George W. Bush announces a $500 million prevention of mother-to-child transmission initiative to improve health care delivery in 14 African and Caribbean countries.<br /> USAID co-sponsors the first international meeting ??on male circumcision; shortly thereafter, pilot programs launch in Haiti, South Africa, Swaziland and Zambia.<br /> HIV becomes the leading cause of death worldwide among those aged 15 to 59.</p> <p>2003 - Congress authorizes PEPFAR, a 5-year, ??$18 billion approach to fighting HIV/AIDS. ??It is the largest commitment by any nation for an international health initiative dedicated to a single disease; USAID helps launch PEPFAR and becomes its largest implementing agency, managing close to $1.3 billion in FY 2004.</p> <p>2005 - The Agency launches the Supply Chain Management System, which provides uninterrupted supplies of quality and affordable antiretroviral drugs and ??other essential medicines and supplies.</p> <p>2006 - USAID takes on the management of PEPFAR?s New ??Partners Initiative, an effort to expand the traditional ??base of partner organizations working in HIV.</p> <p>2008 - Congress reauthorizes PEPFAR for an additional 5 years at ??up to $48 billion; the global response emphasizes a shift to building sustainable, country-owned programs that integrate HIV/AIDS services into broader health systems.<br /> PEPFAR?s shift in policy takes USAID back to its ?development lens.?</p> <p>2009 - President Barack Obama announces the GHI, a 6-year initiative to develop a comprehensive approach to global health, with PEPFAR at the core.</p> <p>2010 - USAID manages approximately 60 percent of all U.S. Government global HIV/AIDS programs, amounting to $3.7 billion.<br /> The CAPRISA 004 trial, a PEPFAR-funded USAID research initiative, provides first proof of concept that a microbicide can prevent HIV infection in women.</p> <p>2011 - June 5 marks 30 years since the first reported ??cases and discovery of AIDS.<br /> USAID, through PEPFAR and in conjunction with the South African Government and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, funds FACTS 001, a new trial to confirm findings from CAPRISA.<br /> USAID introduces a strategy for microbicides introduction.<br /> USAID renews its partnership with the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative.<br /> UNAIDS, PEPFAR and PLoS Medicine release a collection of manuscripts on male circumcision expected to have major implications for policy and programming. USAID plays a pivotal role.

 

Download a printable version of the HIV and AIDS timeline [PDF, 800KB].

Last updated: October 02, 2013

Share This Page