Friday marks the 35th occurrence of World AIDS Day, a day dedicated to honoring the approximately 40.4 million individuals who have passed away due to HIV, the virus responsible for AIDS, since the outbreak began in 1981.

Globally, there are over 39 million individuals who have HIV, with more than 1 million being from the United States.

On Friday, President Joe Biden announced that the United States is close to eradicating HIV transmission. He pledged to prioritize efforts to ensure that by 2030, the virus will no longer pose a global public health threat.

Biden announced his intention to prolong the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) for an additional five years.

The White House reports that PEPFAR, a non-partisan program implemented 20 years ago during the administration of President George W. Bush, has rescued over 25 million individuals in over 50 countries and stopped countless HIV transmissions by offering critical medical care and testing.

One of Biden’s objectives is to eliminate the negative perception towards AIDS within the LGBTQ+ community, as it is more widespread among gay men compared to the rest of the population. Biden stated, “This year, my Administration put an end to the unacceptable policy of prohibiting gay and bisexual men from donating blood.”

Secretary of State Anthony Blinken announced on Friday that PEPFAR is providing support for partner countries’ efforts to combat the spread of various diseases, such as coronavirus, Ebola, cholera, H1N1 influenza, mpox, and tuberculosis. The focus is on preventing future pandemics from occurring.