World AIDS Day at NIH

December 1 is World AIDS Day: a day to unite in efforts to end the global HIV pandemic, show support for those living with HIV, and remember those who have lost their lives to the disease. 

World AIDS Day—the first global health day—was observed for the first time in 1988, a decade in which the average life expectancy for an individual with AIDS was three years after diagnosis. Today, HIV is a manageable chronic condition for those with access to treatment and services. But despite this progress, much work remains. Ongoing support for HIV and AIDS research is critical to ending the pandemic and improving the health of people with HIV. 

To call attention to this need, the NIH Office of AIDS Research (OAR) leads the annual NIH observance of World AIDS Day. Each year, as the steward of the world’s largest public-sector investment in HIV/AIDS research, NIH: 

• convenes a cross-sector and cross-disciplinary group of research partners to discuss recent progress and discuss the challenges that remain
• shares an update on the current state and future of HIV research
• collaborates extensively with federal partners inside and outside NIH, including HIV.gov, to coordinate efforts. 

Learn more about previous observances below. 

Additional Resources

• Learn more from HIV.gov about the U.S. Government theme “Collective Action: Sustain and Accelerate HIV Progress.”

Past Observances 

• NIH World AIDS Day 2023 Event 
  • NIH Statement on World AIDS Day 2023
• NIH World AIDS Day 2022 Event 
  • NIH Statement on World AIDS Day 2022
• NIH World AIDS Day 2021 Event
  • NIH Statement on World AIDS Day 2021
• NIH World AIDS Day 2020 Event
  • NIH Statement on World AIDS Day 2020
• NIH World AIDS Day 2019 Event
  • NIH Statement on World AIDS Day 2019
• NIH World AIDS Day 2018 Event
  • NIH Statement on World AIDS Day 2018
• NIH World AIDS Day 2017 Event
  • NIH Statement on World AIDS Day 2017