In conjunction with World AIDS Day, December 1, 2011, President
Barack Obama announced accelerated efforts to increase the
availability of treatment to people living with HIV/AIDS in the
United States. The president directed the U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services (HHS) to invest approximately $50
million in new funding to support AIDS Drug Assistance Programs
in states and increase access to HIV/AIDS care services.
“President Obama has laid out a compelling vision that has the
power to change the course of the epidemic,” said HHS Secretary
Kathleen Sebelius. “Now it’s up to all of us to make our
National HIV/AIDS Strategy real. Treatment not only improves and
extends the lives of people living with HIV, but it also
drastically reduces their risk of spreading the virus." The
president emphasized that critical HHS resources will help
ensure that HIV-positive Americans get the best care and
treatment possible. HHS will commit approximately $35 million in
new funding and enhanced technical assistance th