amfAR Highlights Critical Need for Increase In PEPFAR Funds

A new infographic from amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, highlights the critical need to maintain funds for The President's Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), one of the most successful global public health programs in US history.

PEPFAR currently supports more than 7.7 million people by providing access to lifesaving HIV medications and treatments. The number of people on antiretroviral therapy supported by PEPFAR has a direct correlation to the reduction of new HIV infections.

However, flat funding in the 2016 year threatens PEPFAR's success and jeopardizes the progress that has been made in curbing the worldwide HIV/AIDS epidemic. If PEPFAR continues to be funded by the same previous levels of government funding through 2017, it is predicated that the initiative will save more than 370,000 lives and prevent more than 200,000 new HIV infections.

An infographic released from amfAR highlights the need for investment in PEPFAR funding in the year 2016 to continue the decline seen in new HIV infections over the past few years. This visual representation may draw attention to an epidemic that might be slipping from the general public's attention.