Marking the 31st World AIDS Day

Today, December 1, 2019, the world marks the 31st year of World AIDS Day. Established in 1988, it is a day to remember those who have lost their lives and have been impacted by the virus, but also to recognize how far we have come in understanding and fighting this disease, and celebrate the advocates, healthcare workers, scientists, policy makers and many others who have made this progress possible. For me personally, these three decades have been a remarkable journey, from witnessing HIV take lives of patients within two years of diagnosis, to working with hundreds of colleagues and partners to help transform this disease into a manageable illness.

The collaboration between scientific, medical and advocacy communities, together with governments and funders, has made it possible to change the trajectory of HIV in 30 years. Together, we have worked to harness science and technology, and now have 40 drugs, simplified treatment regimens and sophisticated diagnostics to help people with the virus live near-normal lives.

Nevertheless, AIDS remains a huge global health challenge, with nearly 38 million people living with the disease, and 1.7 million new cases every year, largely in Eastern and Southern Africa. Achieving a world free of HIV will require continued collaboration, not only to advance scientific innovation, but also to overcome societal barriers such as gender inequality and stigma associated with the disease.

Thirty years ago, my mentor, Dr. Paul Janssen, had envisioned that one day, we will be able to manage HIV with one pill once a day. Today, we have not only achieved this vision, but are on the brink of new treatments that could help keep HIV under control with just one injection every month, or even every other month. Moreover, together with multiple partners, we are testing a preventive vaccine that could help stop the progress of the HIV epidemic once and for all.

I know that the world community remains committed, as do I, to continuing to work together and do everything we can to achieve a world without HIV.