United States Global AIDS Coordinator
The United States Global AIDS Coordinator is a position within the United States Department of State responsible for overseeing and coordinating the U.S. government's response to the global HIV/AIDS epidemic. The office is officially known as the Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator and Health Diplomacy (OGAC).
History[edit | edit source]
The position was established in 2003 by the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), an initiative launched by President George W. Bush to combat the global HIV/AIDS crisis. The first Global AIDS Coordinator was Randall L. Tobias, who served from 2003 to 2006.
Responsibilities[edit | edit source]
The Global AIDS Coordinator is tasked with:
- Leading the implementation of PEPFAR.
- Coordinating the efforts of various U.S. government agencies involved in the global HIV/AIDS response.
- Ensuring that U.S. efforts are aligned with international partners, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).
- Managing the allocation of funds appropriated by the United States Congress for global HIV/AIDS programs.
Key Initiatives[edit | edit source]
PEPFAR is the cornerstone of the Global AIDS Coordinator's work. It focuses on:
- Providing antiretroviral therapy (ART) to millions of people living with HIV.
- Preventing new HIV infections through various interventions, including pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC).
- Supporting orphaned and vulnerable children affected by HIV/AIDS.
- Strengthening health systems in partner countries to improve the overall response to HIV/AIDS.
Notable Global AIDS Coordinators[edit | edit source]
- Randall L. Tobias (2003-2006)
- Mark R. Dybul (2006-2009)
- Eric Goosby (2009-2013)
- Deborah L. Birx (2014-2020)
- John Nkengasong (2022-present)
Impact[edit | edit source]
Since its inception, PEPFAR has been credited with saving millions of lives and significantly reducing the global HIV/AIDS burden. The program has provided ART to over 20 million people and has been instrumental in preventing millions of new infections.
Related Pages[edit | edit source]
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