Global Laser Talk November 2011

World AIDS Day Editorial

World AIDS Day comes every year, but this year something is optimistically different: new research is demonstrating that AIDS transmission can be reduced by 96 percent if treatment is started early. It could be that we are seeing the beginning of the end of AIDS.

Most people are not aware of this new hope. In fact, in 2010 we saw a 10 percent decrease in global AIDS funding at a time when we need to be providing more early treatment.

We need to educate Congress and the community about this groundbreaking research. We need to share existing economic models that show an investment now can lower the cost of addressing AIDS later. We also need to make sure that the U.S. keeps its commitment to funding the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria.

Will you please write a World AIDS Day editorial about this new research and the hope of ending AIDS? We failed to act quickly when AIDS first emerged over 30 years ago. Now we have an opportunity to act on new tools and potentially move toward the end of AIDS. I would be happy to provide additional information if needed.