AIDS United Public Policy Committee, on March 7, affirmed conclusive evidence proving that people living with HIV who have achieved a sustained, undetectable viral load cannot transmit HIV to sexual partners. The committee is a national coalition of community-based HIV/AIDS organizations.
“This is a landmark development in the response to HIV and too many people are not hearing this message and receiving its full benefit,” said AIDS United President and CEO Jesse Milan Jr., in a statement. “This development puts each one of us living with HIV at the forefront of stopping new infections, and gives everyone strong, clear and direct language to stop the stigma and move all communities faster towards ending the epidemic.”
The declaration underscores the organization’s programmatic, policy and advocacy work to expand access to antiretroviral medications to all people living with HIV, the statement added.
AIDS United will also call upon service providers and advocates to widely promote knowledge about undetectable viral loads, as well as suggest federal Department of Health and Human Services officials review the issue and publish revised guidelines. They will also work towards reform of HIV-transmission criminalization laws, most of which were formulated years ago.
“We won’t end this epidemic until all people understand this advancement and support access to antiretroviral care and other supportive services for people living with HIV. The science is clear and now we must put science to work,” said Milan.