DoD Remains Strong Partners in the Fight Against HIV/AIDS

On this international World AIDS Day, the Military Health System joins the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) in honoring the millions of people around the world who have been impacted by the AIDS epidemic while recognizing the significant strides that have been made in the fight against HIV/AIDS over the last 25 years. Launched in 2003 to combat global HIV/AIDS, PEPFAR is the largest commitment by any nation to combat a single disease in history.

"The Department of Defense is proud to be an implementing partner in what has been a bold call for action abroad and an equally bold call for a new way of doing business here at home," said Richard Shaffer, Ph.D., director for the DoD HIV/AIDS Prevention Program (DHAPP). "We look forward to continuing to answer the call to come together in the common cause of turning the tide against the HIV/AIDS pandemic."

DHAPP, based at the Naval Health Research Center (NHRC) in San Diego, Calif., is the DoD Executive Agent for the technical assistance, management, and administrative support of the global HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and treatment for foreign militaries. DHAPP administers funding, directly conducts training, and provides technical assistance for focus countries and other bilateral countries. DHAPP oversees the contributions to PEPFAR of a variety of DoD organizations, which fall under the various regional military commands, as well as specialized DoD institutions whose primary mission falls within the continental United States.

DoD currently has HIV/AIDS prevention programs in eighty countries, where World AIDS Day celebrations and activities will take place. In Kenya, counseling and testing will be offered during local soccer matches, beauty contests and body building contests. In Liberia, a Kickball and Volley ball match will be held between the country military, SEA BEES (US Navy) and Implementing Partners. In Uganda, in collaboration with the CDC, USAID, the Embassy and other local partners, a game show based on the American TV show Jeopardy will take place to increase HIV awareness and prevention

For more information on DHAPP, please visit www.health.mil/profiles.

For more information on PEPFAR, please visit www.pepfar.gov.

About the MHS
America's Military Health System is a unique partnership of medical educators, medical researchers, and health care providers and their support personnel worldwide. This DoD enterprise consists of the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs; the medical departments of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Joint Chiefs of Staff; the Combatant Command surgeons; and TRICARE providers (including private sector health care providers, hospitals and pharmacies).