Today, Dec. 1, 2024, the global HIV community marks the 37th annual World AIDS Day (WAD). Here in the U.S., the face of HIV looks quite different than it did on the first WAD in 1988. It is estimated that more than 50 percent of people living with HIV (PLHIV) in the U.S. are aged 50 and older — an age that must have seemed impossible to the countless young people diagnosed during the height of the epidemic. Some were diagnosed later in life, whereas others have lived with HIV for many years — in some cases, since birth.
While their stories differ, PLHIV all face a common challenge: facing the impact of aging with HIV. The theme of WAD 2024 is “Collective action: Sustain and accelerate HIV progress.” A key to this progress is uplifting and understanding the real stories and lived realities of those growing older with HIV and using their experiences to guide proactive policy. […]
Click here to view the full piece. This story was originally published by the Washington Blade on November 27, 2024.
