PEPFAR marks 20 years of saving lives

On its 20th anniversary, the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) is celebrating its success in providing lifesaving treatment to more than 20 million people worldwide and advancing voluntary medical male circumcision and other preventive measures, while preparing to tackle remaining challenges to end the HIV epidemic. The programme has greatly increased the percentage of people who know their HIV status, receive care, and achieve an undetectable viral load through medication adherence. While the PEPFAR platform was invaluable to help countries respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, the pandemic slowed efforts to address HIV, and the programme must strengthen efforts to reach marginalized populations if it hopes to meet UN targets for ending HIV (The Body, 31 March 2023).