Hi John,

I’m writing with good news and bad news.

Let’s start with the positive: AIDS-related deaths have declined by nearly 70% since 2004 because the world took action to tackle this killer disease. Back then, 5,000 people were dying every single day. We owe a lot of the gains against HIV/AIDS to programs like the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). This progress is an amazing milestone worth celebrating and protecting.

Do you agree? 

Now for the bad news: the AIDS epidemic is still growing in some places at an alarming rate. We are at risk of being right back where we started without a renewed commitment to the fight and programs like PEPFAR. And despite nearly a year of advocating for its reauthorization, PEPFAR remains stalled on Capitol Hill.

Do you agree that the progress must be celebrated AND protected? John, tell us what you think.

World AIDS Day is on December 1. We’ll be back in touch soon and use the results of the poll to tell the White House and Congress how people like you feel about the fight against this disease.

Thank you as always.

Kelli Meyer, ONE.org