World AIDS Day 2024 Roundup: Key Messages and Resources from the White House and Federal Agencies

Content From: HIV.gov•Published: December 03, 2024•6 min read

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In honor of World AIDS Day 2024, the White House and agencies across the federal government have shared key messages and new resources. For your convenience, we have recapped these World AIDS Day updates and shared other resources below.

The White House Honors World AIDS Day 2024

In recognition of World AIDS Day 2024, President Joe Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden hosted an event with survivors, their families, and advocates. It marked the first time that sections of the AIDS Memorial Quilt were displayed on the White House South Lawn, a powerful tribute to those who have been lost to HIV/AIDS. Read about the event.

The White House also released a proclamation calling for World AIDS Day 2024 to be a moment of unity that rallies the country to give all those affected the care, hope, and support they deserve, as well as a fact sheet highlighting the Biden–Harris administration’s accomplishments and activities to accelerate domestic HIV efforts, respond to HIV/AIDS globally, address HIV stigma and discrimination, ensure equity, and advance new research. On December 5, 2024, the White House Office of National AIDS Policy (ONAP) is convening a symposium to address core aspects of quality of life for people living with HIV. Portions of the summit can be viewed virtually Exit Disclaimer from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. EST.

Statements from Across the U.S. Government

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

In commemoration of World AIDS Day 2024, HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra issued a statement honoring the memory of all of those who have been lost in the HIV epidemic, acknowledging those who have fought to build awareness, secure much-needed funding, and develop and distribute life-saving treatments and prevention tools, and celebrating those who are living with HIV.

Assistant Secretary for Health Admiral Rachel Levine also released a message honoring those we have lost to AIDS-related illnesses and reaffirming HHS’s commitment to preventing new HIV infections and providing essential services to all people living with HIV. Her message highlighted HHS’ announcement of a final rule removing the HOPE Act research requirements currently in place for transplants of kidneys and livers from donors with HIV to recipients with HIV. She also released a World AIDS Day statement emphasizing that ending the HIV epidemic takes all partners working together to implement the tools and resources we have to prevent and treat HIV, centering our work on those with lived experience.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

CDC issued a World AIDS Day 2024 Dear Colleague letter detailing how stigma negatively affects access to HIV prevention, treatment, and care and highlighting the continued need for supportive communities and health care settings to reduce stigma and improve health outcomes for people with HIV. The letter included links to CDC’s Let’s Stop HIV Together campaign resources to reduce HIV stigma. We encourage you to download and share these campaign resources. You can also share social media content from CDC’s digital toolkit using the #WorldAIDSDay2024 and #StopHIVTogether hashtags.

CDC also issued in its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) data on CDC-supported uptake of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in 37 countries from 2017–2023, showing progress toward meeting UNAIDS global HIV PrEP targets.

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)

CMS recognized World AIDS Day 2024 by releasing a new fact sheet (PDF, 196KB) with information on how CMS has taken strides to address and treat HIV.

Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) HIV/AIDS Bureau

HRSA’s Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) published its 2023 Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Annual Data Report and an accompanying infographic (PDF, 871KB) on World AIDS Day. New program data show that a record-breaking 90.6 percent of people with HIV receiving medical care through the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program are virally suppressed, exceeding national viral suppression rates. On December 5, the HRSA HIV/AIDS Bureau will host an in-person and virtual Exit Disclaimer World AIDS Day commemoration event.

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

In honor of World AIDS Day, HUD’s Office of HIV/AItDS Housing issued a letter Exit Disclaimer to Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS (HOPWA) grantees, project sponsors, and friends, discussing the vital role that housing plays in ending the HIV epidemic. This year, the HOPWA program provided grant funding to over 150 community organizations and local governments and provided housing and supportive services for over 100,000 low-income people with HIV and their families. In 2023, HOPWA providers reported that 97 percent of households receiving HOPWA permanent housing assistance were stably housed, 92 percent had contact with a case manager, and 84 percent had contact with a primary care physician.

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

In observance of World AIDS Day, NIH issued a statement penned by Director, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), Jeanne Marrazzo, MD, MPH, and Associate Director for AIDS Research and Director, Office of AIDS Research (OAR), Geri Donenberg, PhD, detailing the pivotal role of the American people in the response to the global HIV pandemic. The statement recognizes clinical trial participants, researchers, community partners and others in the role they play in improving the health of millions. On December 4, 2024, OAR will host a virtual event, NIH World AIDS Day 2024 Event: Progress, Innovation, and Impact in HIV Research Exit Disclaimer, focusing on transformational discoveries informing HIV prevention, treatment, and service delivery and factors that continue to impede access to effective prevention and treatment strategies.

NIH—National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

NHLBI shared insights from researchers about strategies being studied to support the cardiovascular health of people with HIV. The research feature details studies focusing on the role of nurses in bridging HIV and cardiovascular care and the importance of education about hypertension and blood pressure screening in routine HIV care.

NIH—National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

NIDA Director Dr. Nora Volkow penned a blog post about the importance of syringe services programs (SSPs) for people who inject drugs, noting that 30 years of research shows that providing testing, counseling, and sterile injection supplies to people who inject opioids and other drugs helps prevent transmission of infectious diseases without increasing drug-related or other crimes in the vicinity.

U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)

On World AIDS Day, USAID issued a statement honoring people living with and affected by HIV and reaffirming the agency’s dedication to collective action to address and end HIV.

U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ)

For World AIDS Day, DOJ released a blog post reaffirming its commitment to defending the civil rights of people living with HIV and AIDS. The statement details several actions taken by DOJ to ensure that every person, regardless of their HIV status, can live free from stigma and prejudice.

U.S. Department of State

On the 37th World AIDS Day, the U.S. Department of State published a statement from U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator and Senior Bureau Official for Global Health Security and Diplomacy, Ambassador John Nkengasong. The statement highlighted the accomplishments of the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and emphasized the importance of sustaining the gains that have been made in the HIV response. Additional statements from Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Linda Thomas-Greenfield, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, were also released.