Getting to Zero

In the decades since the first reported cases of AIDS in the early 80s, our understanding of HIV has increased exponentially. Bio-medical advancements and strategies – such as Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), Antiretroviral Treatment (ART), and Treatment as Prevention (TasP) – have instilled hope that we are within reach of ending this pandemic. The release of the 2011-2015 Getting to Zero Strategy by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) was a pivotal initiative that recognized this possibility, but noted three important visions that needed to be included to realize this outcome: Zero New Infections, Zero AIDS-related Deaths, and Zero Discrimination. Importantly, it recognized that while we may have the bio-medical tools to keep people from being infected, or from dying from the disease, other factors – like stigma and discrimination – contribute to disparities on how the disease impacts different communities and populations (e.g., gay men, transgender women, or African Americans).

Highly impacted communities throughout our region have utilized this Getting to Zero (GTZ) framework to develop their own local GTZ plans. These plans are ways in which jurisdictions can take ownership and engage multiple stakeholders (e.g., local planning councils, CBOs, community leaders, academic institutions, health departments, local government officials, and business representatives) to shape a local community effort. While there are some variation based on local priorities, most of these multi-year initiatives focus on the three core visions: Zero New Infections, Zero AIDS-related Deaths, and Zero Stigma as their main goals. These efforts may include rollout of PrEP and TasP activities (and messaging around Undetectable=Untransmittable / U=U), workforce HIV training and skills development to increase access HIV services, and targeted actions to address stigma through community-level as well as structural-level interventions.

Pacific AETC continues to be involved in GTZ efforts throughout our region; many of our Local Partners assist as members, subject-matter experts, or neutral conveners in these initiatives.

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