As the 24th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2022) came to a close, HIV.gov heard reflections from several federal HIV leaders including the White House’s Harold Phillips, PEPFAR’s Ambassador John Nkengasong, and HHS’ ADM Rachel Levine, MD, Assistant Secretary for Health. View our final re-cap video below and our full conversation with Mr. Phillips and Ambassador Nkengasong that follows.

ONAP Director Phillips and Ambassador Nkengasong Reflect on Key Conference Messages

HIV.gov visited again with Harold Phillips, MRP, Director of the White House Office of National AIDS Policy, and Ambassador Dr. John Nkengasong, U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator and Special Representative for Health Diplomacy, who leads the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). They shared some of their key takeaways from the conference. Ambassador Nkengasong noted that the conference opened with a report from UNAIDSExit Disclaimer highlighting concerning trends in global HIV data that suggests progress against HIV has faltered in recent years. But he also observed that several messages of hope were shared at the conference, including Botswana’s announcement that they had exceeded the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets as well as the remarkable latest global results reported by PEPFAR. Mr. Phillips remarked on the need to continue to invest appropriately in HIV so that the scientific advances presented at the conference can be brought to scale to serve populations equitably. He underscored the importance of a message heard throughout the conference: working with the HIV community from design through delivery of services to ensure an effective, person-centered approach to HIV testing, prevention, care and treatment. View our full conversation with themExit Disclaimer. (You can also watch our first discussion with themExit Disclaimer as the conference started.)

Also at the Conference

We spoke briefly on Instagram with Kaye HayesExit Disclaimer, the HHS Deputy Assistant Secretary for Infectious Disease, who talked about her takeaway messages from the conference, particularly the role of community in the HIV response.

HIV.gov at AIDS 2022

AIDS 2022Exit Disclaimer took place in Montreal, Canada, and virtually from July 29 to August 2, 2022. It brought together thousands of researchers, policymakers, program implementers, advocates, and others to present and discuss the latest HIV research, move research into action, share innovative programs and practices, and strengthen local, national, and global efforts to end the HIV epidemic. You can catch up on all our conference coverage on the blog and all of our video conversations from the conference on our YouTube playlistExit Disclaimer.