Editorial recognizing World AIDS Day welcome

Thanks to the Editorial Board of The Olympian for remembering World AIDS Day and the lessons this disease has taught us. Highlighting the progress in our state, the goal to cut new infections in half, and the challenges of dealing with the stigma of this disease are important for us to be aware of in order to win this battle.

On the national and international levels, we have learned that fighting this disease globally protects us locally. This lesson is learned with each new disease, but specifically with the major three pandemics faced by our world: AIDS, TB, and malaria. Fortunately, the Global Partnership to Fight AIDS, TB, and malaria is making progress on the international level.

While in Zambia this year, I witnessed the success of the Global Fund’s work. With 700,000 to 800,000 people on anti-retrovirals, there is now hope for the future, where 15 years ago there was none. Thanks to the Global Fund and President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, Zambia will reach the AIDS-free generation in three to five years.

But like efforts in Washington state, this success in dependent on continued funding. Each of us can help this funding continue by sending this editorial, along with our concerns, to our elected representatives. In this way we can partner with The Olympian to insure funding locally, nationally, and internationally to finally control this epidemic.

This story was originally published December 19, 2017 at 4:04 PM with the headline "Editorial recognizing World AIDS Day welcome."