Dear Senators Tammy Duckworth, Dick Durbin, and Congressman Jonathan L. Jackson
The end of the global AIDS pandemic is within reach. However, achieving this goal requires unified efforts from diverse stakeholders, particularly health policymakers. December 1 marks World AIDS Day, a time for global remembrance of those lost to HIV/AIDS and a reminder of our ongoing battle against this preventable disease.
HIV continues to claim numerous lives. My experience of losing a family member to HIV/AIDS ignited my passion for advocacy to combat the virus in Africa. UNAIDS reports that last year, at least one person was infected with HIV every 30 seconds. These statistics represent individuals whose lives, like that of my loved ones, are forever altered.
Since its launch in 2003, the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) has saved over 25 million lives worldwide, including Nigerians benefitting from uninterrupted antiretroviral treatment. This program brings hope to families globally and significantly impacts communities like Bronzeville, Chicago, where I reside. PEPFAR has saved over 1,012,477 lives, provided treatment to 847,219 people with HIV, and facilitated 134,997 HIV-free births. This achievement deserves recognition.
Yet, the HIV/AIDS pandemic remains a public health threat. Without dedicated policies and PEPFAR’s crucial funding, our progress would be limited. We urgently need concrete commitments to back innovative discoveries and medical technology advancements. Protecting the most vulnerable from HIV/AIDS is our responsibility, with over 39 million people globally still living with HIV. I urge my representatives—Senator Dick Durbin, Senator Tammy Duckworth, and Congressman Jonathan L. Jackson—to endorse a clean, five-year reauthorization of PEPFAR. This support will empower us to persist in the fight to eradicate HIV/AIDS for good.
Chinasa U. Imo