On World AIDS Day 2016, the HIV Medicine Association reaffirms its commitment to advancing policies that promote inclusion, that fight discrimination, and ensure responses to the AIDS pandemic that are comprehensive, humane, and informed by science and social justice. In a changing political environment, we will stand up for proven and essential interventions, including syringe access programs, comprehensive sexual education and preventive and health care services for women. We must recognize and address the conditions that keep too many individuals at risk for HIV and those living with HIV from benefiting from effective prevention and treatment interventions.
Our support remains resolute for the resources and policies critical to keeping us on course to end the HIV epidemic, including sustaining and growing the Ryan White Program; sustaining and improving access to affordable health care coverage, services and prescription drugs; implementing the National HIV/AIDS Strategy; advancing HIV research and scientific discovery; addressing HIV workforce needs; supporting global AIDS Programs; and stemming HIV and hepatitis C outbreaks by addressing the opioid epidemic.
To achieve our goal of ending the HIV epidemic, we must work together to leverage resources, embrace diversity and foster an equitable and humane environment that promotes health and wellness for all.
See the letter sent by the HIVMA Executive Committee to President-elect Trump and an op-ed published by HIVMA Chair, Wendy Armstrong, MD in The Hill on December 1st.
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The HIV Medicine Association (HIVMA) is the professional home for more than 5,000 physicians, scientists, and other health care professionals dedicated to the field of HIV/AIDS. Nested within the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), HIVMA promotes quality in HIV care and advocates policies that ensure a comprehensive and humane response to the AIDS pandemic informed by science and social justice. For more information, visit www.hivma.org.