One day, a world without AIDS

The White House honors World AIDS Day with a ribbon on the portico. Credit: whitehouse.gov

Today is the 34th World AIDS Day and the 41st year of the HIV pandemic.

This is a day of reflection and remembrance for the sacrifices of our patients, friends, families.

It is also a time to celebrate our community’s continued response to the HIV/ AIDS pandemic, the COVID pandemic notwithstanding.

Managing a pandemic requires leadership – and, since the beginning, the Rochester community’s Call to Action showed both leadership and courage. We should take pride in that.

Over past 41 years of HIV, I’ve learned to recognize leadership when I see it. Leadership is challenging the status quo, making change, getting results – and sometimes, making enemies in the process.

That kind of leadership locally and globally has helped us get the point where we can talk realistically about Ending the HIV Epidemic with more HIV testing, better treatment and HIV prevention.

Today, we honor the sacrifices of our friends, family and allies who have helped us get to this point and look to a world without AIDS.

We can do this!!