The Armed Forces for the Defence of Mozambique, in collaboration with the US Department of Defense HIV/AIDS Prevention Program, hosted the 2012 International Military HIV/AIDS Conference: Re-Energizing HIV Campaigns. The meeting was an opportunity for military representatives from around the world to share best practices in HIV prevention, care, and treatment that will have a direct impact on the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Conference objectives included:

- Highlighting the role of leadership in succesful military HIV/AIDS programs.

- Empasizing the best military health system practices in HIV prevention, care, treatment, and strategic information.

- Facilitate military to military technical assistance, networking and partnerships

- Consolidate advances in military medical HIV programs to support an agile, effective, and sustainable response...

WASHINGTON, Dec. 1, 2011 – The Defense Department is commemorating World AIDS Day today with a broad range of activities aimed at helping more than 70 partner militaries with their prevention, care and treatment programs.

“Leading with Science, Uniting for Action,” the theme of this year’s worldwide commemoration, describes how U.S. military members work hand in hand with militaries around the world to address the disease, said Matthew Brown, deputy director of the Defense Department’s HIV/AIDS Prevention Program.

The Naval Health Research Center in San Diego serves as DOD’s executive agent providing technical assistance, management and administrative support for the program.

DOD has provided partner militaries support, technical assistance and resources for their own programs since 2001. That effort expanded in 2003, Brown said, with the launch of the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, or PEPFAR.

The five-year government wide program, managed by the State Department, proved so successful that it was extended in 2008 for another five years, through 2013, Brown reported. Meanwhile, its funding more than doubled, from $15 billion -- the largest commitment any country had ever made...

The Department of Defense HIV/AIDS Prevention Program (DHAPP) commemorates World AIDS Day 2011 by recognizing all 70 active military-to-military HIV prevention programs around the globe. Headquartered in San Diego, CA, at the Naval Health Research Center, DHAPP works with Combatant Commands to implement HIV prevention, care, and treatment programs.

DHAPP celebrated it's 10 year anniversary this year whose programs impact 4.8 million military members and at least as many dependent family members.  The entire health care systems of many militaries around the world have benefited from the health education, health worker training, laboratory capacity building, facilities construction, surveillance tools, clinical treatment, and testing services provided through the collective efforts of everyone involved in reaching military populations with HIV services.

On November 8, 2011, Secretary Clinton called on the world to join the United States in working to achieve the goal of an AIDS-free generation during an address at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland.

An AIDS-free generation means that virtually no children are born with the virus; that as these children become teenagers and adults, they are at a far lower risk of becoming infected than they would be today, thanks to a wide range of prevention tools; and finally that if they do acquire HIV, they have access to treatment that helps prevent them from developing AIDS and passing the virus to others.
 

At the UN High-Level Meeting on AIDS, the U.S. joined with UNAIDS, UNICEF and other leaders in committing to a global action plan that will make significant strides towards eliminating new HIV infections among children by 2015 and keeping their mothers alive.  Ambassador Goosby pledged an additional $75 million, above the approximately $300 million PEPFAR is currently investing in preventing mother-to-child transmission.

Ambassador Goosby also premiered a new trailer created as part of a long-standing partnership between PEPFAR and Warner Bros. This 3-minute trailer highlights America's leadership in fighting HIV and saving lives, with scenes from PEPFAR's work in the field. It also spotlights PEPFAR-supported prevention of mother-to-child transmission efforts.

More information can be found at www.pepfar.gov