World AIDS Day: Obama To Announce New Treatment Targets At Forum By ONE And (RED)

Today,  President Barack Obama is joining Bono, Alicia Keys, moderator Dr. Sanjay Gupta, and former Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton at a comprehensive forum hosted by George Washington University, in Washington DC. The event, entitled “The Beginning of the End of AIDS” will feature speakers, health advocates, and global AIDS experts–as well as an exciting announcement by the President regarding the White House’s new goals for fighting and treating AIDS.

White House insiders told Reuters yesterday that in addition to announcing an increase in AIDS treatment  at home (which the official assured would come from exisiting funds, and wouldn’t get bogged down by congressional approval) of as much as $50 million, the President would also be announcing new global treatment targets. Currently, the White House aims to treat 4 million individuals with HIV and AIDS each year–the new goal, according to the President’s camp, will be 6 million by the end of 2013. Currently, between those receiving assistance from the US Government, non-government organizations, and private health care, about 6.6 million individuals are receiving AIDS treatment. It is estimated that around 30 million are living with the disease.

This exclusive World Aids Day event, which is a partnership between (RED) and ONE, began this morning at 10 a.m. Eastern Time, and is expected to continue throughout the day. In addition to the Obama administration’s important announcement, the form also includes talks about the progress AIDS treatment and eradication has made, and other targets for creating an AIDS-free generation by 2015–one of ONE’s main goals this year. Both YouTube and ONE are offering live streams of the discussions and speeches at today’s event.

The location of today’s forum isn’t an accidental one. AIDS in serious business in Washington DC, where today’s forum is being held. In the district alone, it’s estimated that as many as 3% of residents are living with HIV or AIDS. Populations where 1% have the disease, by contrast, are considered to be experiencing an epidemic.

In you’re interested in today’s exciting announcements and discussions, you can follow along on Twitter, where attendees and viewers will be using the hash-tag “#endofAIDS.”

Image: Pete Souza, the White House