The AIDS Advocacy Network (AAN) is a group of passionate student-activists dedicated to ending the HIV/AIDS pandemic. We use our powerful voices as current and future health professional students to advance evidence-based interventions to reduce stigma and transmission of the virus. We seek to build a movement of young health professionals students to maximize our power and push leaders to act now to put us on the fast-track to ending the pandemic.
Each year the AAN collaborates with partner organizations working on the ground in the hardest-hit countries to protect funding for PEPFAR. The US’s commitment to this crucial initiative is always at risk, and it is only through powerful advocacy by our student members that we continue to make progress towards ending the pandemic.
Read our policy brief and find out how to take action
Every Republican administration since Ronald Reagan has implemented the ‘Mexico City Policy’ or ‘Global Gag Rule,’blocking federal funding to international organizations who even discuss abortion as part of comprehensive birth control options with their patients. Congressional action through HR671, the Global HER Act, could stop this harmful policy for good. And now there is a proposed domestic equivalent.
HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis, a once daily pill that prevents HIV transmission with over 90% effectiveness has been widely available since 2012, however it is prohibitively expensive for many. At upwards of $1600 per month, the drug is not reaching those that need it the most. Since Truvada was largely developed with public funding through the National Institutes of Health, the NIH can exercise ‘march-in rights’ to increase access!
Overwhelming evidence has demonstrated that syringe exchange programs and safe-injection sites have the potential to reduce fatal overdoses and save lives. They have the dual benefit of preventing HIV transmission through the repeated use of needles by multiple people. However, in many cases policy has not kept up with the evidence. Learn more about syringe exchanges and harmful policies.
Across the globe, pharmaceutical companies are becoming more brazen in their attempts to extend patent life and reap profits from PLWH and others living with chronic diseases.
TB is a leading killer of PLWH. In fact, one in three AIDS-related deaths is due to TB. More resources and attention are needed to bend the curve on this deadly co-pandemic.
