Washington, DC – World AIDS Day is an opportunity to focus on the memories of the millions lost globally to HIV/AIDS and to celebrate the miraculous advances in HIV treatment and prevention that now make the end of the epidemic a real possibility.  From 2008 to 2014, there has was an 18% decrease in new HIV diagnoses – promising great hope about future advances in prevention. But this advance is not uniform, with low-income communities of color, young gay men, and black women continuing to be disproportionately burdened by new HIV infections. Also, the historic increases in STDs should give us pause as we take stock of advances and the challenges ahead on this World AIDS Day. STD prevention is HIV prevention, and HIV-related STD prevention must be a top national priority.

This year’s World AIDS Day theme is, “increasing impact through transparency, accountability, and partnerships.” In November, NCSD just hosted its annual meeting NCSD Engage 2017, based on the theme of “building alliances, breaking barriers” and we can think of no more appropriate message on this day. We cannot accomplish the goal of ending the epidemics in siloes. We must come together as a field to address health disparities, promote sexual health, and save lives. A federal investment in high-impact HIV and STD prevention strategies and programs must continue and we must persist in this fight. Through a commitment to engage, build partnerships, and break down barriers, our vision is to end HIV and STDs and promote the sexual health of all Americans.