USAID at AIDS 2016

The conference brought together 12,000 participants to discuss the latest developments in HIV prevention, treatment, and care. USAID's Office of HIV/AIDS played a significant role in the conference, highlighting the agency's commitment to ending the AIDS epidemic. USAID's Office of HIV/AIDS was established in 1986 and has since become a technical leader in the field of HIV/AIDS. The office has a three-pronged mission: providing global leadership to maximize the impact of USAID's response to HIV and AIDS, supporting country-led efforts to combat the epidemic, and applying science, technology, and innovation to support the implementation of cost-effective and sustainable HIV and AIDS interventions. To achieve the goal of an AIDS-free generation, USAID is focused on several key areas, including Test and Start, Sustainable Financing Initiative, and DREAMS. Test and Start aims to rapidly expand coverage of antiretroviral therapy services, save lives, and reduce ongoing transmission of HIV. The Sustainable Financing Initiative seeks to mobilize domestic resources in countries to meet the long-term needs of people living with HIV. DREAMS is a $385 million partnership to reduce HIV infection among adolescent girls and young women in HIV priority areas. USAID's programs for orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) affected by HIV and AIDS contribute to the achievement of an AIDS-free generation by responding to the social, economic, and emotional consequences of the disease on children, their families, and the communities that support them. The goal of USAID and PEPFAR's OVC Program is to improve the health and well-being of children and families by mitigating the impact of HIV and AIDS and increasing children's resilience and reducing their risk for the disease. Key populations, including people who inject drugs, men who have sex with men, transgender persons, and sex workers, are disproportionately infected with HIV compared to the general population. Through strategic projects like LINKAGES, USAID is working to provide HIV services to these key populations. The conference also highlighted the importance of addressing the structural inequalities that impact girls' vulnerability to HIV. USAID is partnering with community, faith-based, and nongovernmental organizations to address these inequalities and provide HIV services to adolescent girls and young women. Overall, the 21st International AIDS Conference was a significant event that brought together global leaders to discuss the latest developments in HIV prevention, treatment, and care. USAID's Office of HIV/AIDS played a key role in the conference, highlighting the agency's commitment to ending the AIDS epidemic and achieving an AIDS-free generation.