The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
November 29, 2014
Presidential Proclamation — World AIDS Day, 2014
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA A PROCLAMATION
In communities across our Nation and around the world, we have made
extraordinary progress in the global fight against HIV/AIDS. Just over
three decades ago, when we knew only the devastation HIV inflicted,
those living with it had to fight just to be treated with dignity and
compassion, and since the first cases of AIDS were reported, tens of
millions of vibrant men and women have lost their lives to this deadly
virus. Today, we have transformed what it means to live with HIV/AIDS.
More effective prevention, treatment, and care now save millions of
lives while awareness has soared and research has surged. This World
AIDS Day, we come together to honor all those who have been touched by
HIV/AIDS and celebrate the promising public health and scientific
advances that have brought us closer to our goal of an AIDS-free
generation.
Since I took office, more people who are infected with HIV have
learned of their status, allowing them to access the essential care that
can improve their health, extend their lives, and prevent transmission
of the virus to others. My Administration has made strides to limit new
infections and reduce HIV-related disparities and health inequalities,
and we have nearly eliminated the waiting list for the AIDS Drug
Assistance Program. For many, with testing and access to the right
treatment, a disease that was once a death sentence now offers a good
chance for a healthy and productive life.
Despite these gains, too many with HIV/AIDS, especially young
Americans, still do not know they are infected; too many communities,
including gay and bisexual men, African Americans, and Hispanics remain
disproportionately impacted; and too many individuals continue to bear
the burden of discrimination and stigma. There is more work to do, and
my Administration remains steadfast in our commitment to defeating this
disease. Guided by our National HIV/AIDS Strategy, we are working to
build a society where every person has access to life-extending care,
regardless of who they are or whom they love. The Affordable Care Act
prohibits insurance companies from denying coverage due to a
pre-existing condition, such as HIV/AIDS, and requires that most health
plans cover HIV screenings without copays for everyone ages 15 to 65 and
others at increased risk. We have expanded opportunities for
groundbreaking research, and we continue to invest in innovation to
develop a vaccine and find a cure. And this summer, my Administration
held a series of listening sessions across the country to better
understand the successes and challenges of those fighting HIV at the
local and State level.
In the face of a disease that extends far beyond our borders, the
United States remains committed to leading the world in the fight
against HIV/AIDS and ensuring no one is left behind. Hundreds of
thousands of adolescent girls and young women are infected with HIV
every year, and we are working to reach and assist them and every
community in need. As part of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS
Relief, over 7 million people with HIV around the globe are receiving
antiretroviral treatment, a four-fold increase since the start of my
Administration. In countries throughout the world, our initiatives are
improving the lives of women and girls, accelerating life-saving
treatment for children, and supporting healthy, robust communities.
As a Nation, we have made an unwavering commitment to bend the curve
of the HIV epidemic, and the progress we have seen is the result of
countless people who have shared their stories, lent their strength, and
led the fight to spare others the anguish of this disease. Today, we
remember all those who lost their battle with HIV/AIDS, and we recognize
those who agitated and organized in their memory. On this day, let us
rededicate ourselves to continuing our work until we reach the day we
know is possible — when no child has to know the pain of HIV/AIDS and no
life is limited by this virus.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States do hereby proclaim December 1, 2014, as
World AIDS Day. I urge the Governors of the States and the Commonwealth
of Puerto Rico, officials of the other territories subject to the
jurisdiction of the United States, and the American people to join me in
appropriate activities to remember those who have lost their lives to
AIDS and to provide support and comfort to those living with this
disease.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-eighth
day of November, in the year of our Lord two thousand fourteen, and of
the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and
thirty-ninth.
BARACK OBAMA
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