World AIDS Day (December 1, 2023)

Posted November 22, 2023

(Animation by National AIDS Trust)

World AIDS Day 2023

Every year on December 1st, the world unites to commemorate World AIDS Day. This annual event serves as a reminder of the global struggle to end HIV-related stigma, an opportunity to honor those we have lost, and a rallying cry to continue working toward a day when HIV is no longer a public health threat. In 2023, we mark the 35th commemoration of this important day with the theme “World AIDS Day 35: Remember and Commit”.

“The 35th commemoration of World AIDS Day is an opportunity to reflect on our journey, acknowledge and celebrate the progress we’ve made, and recognize the challenges remaining,” said Admiral Rachel L. Levine, MD, Assistant Secretary for Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “However, many people with HIV still lack access to essential healthcare and support services. We must strive to increase equitable access and outcomes for HIV testing, prevention, treatment, and care services. The battle is far from over.”

A Reflection from our Principal Investigators, Prescott Chow, MUP, and Monica Hahn, MD, MPH, MS, AAHIVS

“World AIDS Day offers us an opportunity to reflect on everyone we’ve lost, everything we’ve accomplished, and everything we still need to do to end this epidemic. This year’s theme, “World AIDS Day 35: Remember and Commit,” aptly names our challenge. While we have collectively made great progress since the disease first emerged, we know those advantages have not translated into equitable access to services nor eliminated the disease burden, especially for people and communities that have been hardest hit by HIV. To be clear, the HIV community has achieved so much – we now can see an end to this epidemic, in the not-too-distant future. However, we must commit to the work and focus our efforts to ensure EVERYONE can reach this future together. We know that systemic oppression in the forms of racism, poverty, homophobia, transphobia, stigma, and criminalization are some of the major obstacles that are holding us back. We also know that we have not always had the necessary resources to sustainably address these obstacles, and that critical funding for HIV programs continues to be in jeopardy.

At the Pacific AETC and the Training & Health Equity Collaborative, we pledge to play our part. Our commitment extends to disrupting and repairing systems that sustain harm and inequity. We vow to center the communities most affected and marginalized in our daily endeavors. Recognizing the pivotal role of anti-oppression and anti-racism in the realm of HIV prevention, treatment, capacity building, training, and education, it is our responsibility to scrutinize and critique oppressive systems and their role in generating and perpetuating the inequities prevalent in the HIV landscape.

With deep gratitude and optimism, we embark on our mission with a team dedicated to our cause and collective aspirations for future strides in advancing and attaining health equity for all. Access to quality HIV services is a right everyone deserves. Let’s commit to making it a reality.

With this sentiment, we uplift the words of activist Vito Russo: “….Someday, the AIDS crisis will be over. Remember that. And when that day comes — when that day has come and gone, there’ll be people alive on this earth — gay people and straight people, men and women, black and white, who will hear the story that once there was a terrible disease in this country and all over the world, and that a brave group of people stood up and fought and, in some cases, gave their lives, so that other people might live and be free.”

Monica Hahn, MD, MPH, MS, AAHIVS and Prescott Chow, MUP
Training & Health Equity (THE) Collaborative Principal Investigators

Our History: Pacific AETC

The Pacific AIDS Education & Training Center (Pacific AETC) is a member of a national AIDS Education & Training Center network of eight regional and two national centers, covering all 50 states as well as US Territories and Jurisdictions.

PAETC logo transparent

In October 1987, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Bureau of Health Professions, under the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), established the AIDS Education & Training Center (AETC) Program to build the HIV clinical workforce in the United States. In the early days of the AETC, there were two Centers that served the Pacific region: the AETC for Southern California (led by the University of Southern California) and the Western AETC (led by the University of California, Davis). In the mid-90s, with encouragement from HRSA, the two Centers solidified. The University of California, San Francisco (where the Western AETC was housed) would lead the new entity, now known as Pacific AETC.

The AETC program continues to evolve and Pacific AETC continues to be at the forefront of practice and innovation. This includes highlighting emerging science and healthcare innovation, and our commitment to health equity. While the programming has evolved over the 30+ years of the AETC program, much of the work remains ongoing, urgent, and life-saving: ensuring healthcare professionals have the clinical and programmatic knowledge and skills needed to support care for people with or affected by HIV.

Social Media Posts and Images to Share:

December 1 is World AIDS Day. Share the social media posts below to raise awareness of HIV among people worldwide and encourage them to get tested and know their prevention options.

Hashtags: #WorldAIDSDay #StopHIVTogether

Promoting HIV Testing, Prevention, and Treatment, and Stopping HIV Stigma

HIV can affect anyone, regardless of their sexual orientation, race, gender, or age. This #WorldAIDSDay, we must challenge misinformation, racism, homophobia, and transphobia to #StopHIVStigma. #StopHIVTogether.

Clinicians Supporting World AIDS Day

Clinicians: With science-based HIV screening, prevention, and treatment we can help end the HIV epidemic. This #WorldAIDSDay, and every day, access free CDC tools and guidelines for your practice from CDC’s #HIVNexus: https://bit.ly/3DHYEEb. #StopHIVTogether

New: PrEP Ready! Community of Practice Past Sessions Available

PrEP Ready! CoP is a peer-to peer EHE learning community to strengthen equitable PrEP programming at FQHCs in the Pacific Region. Sessions are created to help to enhance the various aspects required to offer successful PrEP delivery services with a health equity lens. While PrEP Ready! CoP session are only open to FQHCs in EHE jurisdictions in the Pacific Region, we believe all healthcare organizations offering PrEP can find the materials developed useful.

Below is a list of past session with registration links to view the archived recordings, slides, PrEP implementation tools, and other materials developed for each session. Click on each title to register!

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World AIDS Day (December 1, 2023)

World AIDS Day 2023

A Reflection from our Principal Investigators, Prescott Chow, MUP, and Monica Hahn, MD, MPH, MS, AAHIVS

Our History: Pacific AETC

Social Media Posts and Images to Share:

Promoting HIV Testing, Prevention, and Treatment, and Stopping HIV Stigma

Clinicians Supporting World AIDS Day

New: PrEP Ready! Community of Practice Past Sessions Available

Recent Posts

Categories

World AIDS Day (December 1, 2023)

World AIDS Day 2023

A Reflection from our Principal Investigators, Prescott Chow, MUP, and Monica Hahn, MD, MPH, MS, AAHIVS

Our History: Pacific AETC

Social Media Posts and Images to Share:

Promoting HIV Testing, Prevention, and Treatment, and Stopping HIV Stigma

Clinicians Supporting World AIDS Day

New: PrEP Ready! Community of Practice Past Sessions Available

Recent Posts

Categories

Pacific AETC’s got a new look!