By Jarrett Renshaw

(Reuters). – Wednesday, President Joe Biden, the United States, will announce a revised national strategy to fight the AIDS epidemic. This includes funding more research, increasing treatment accessibility, and acknowledging racism’s role in inequitable access for medical services.

Third update of the U.S. AIDS strategy has been made since 2010. It sets a high goal for ending the epidemic. The target includes a 75% reduction on new HIV infections in 2025, as well as a 95% reduction by 2030.

Since 1981, HIV/AIDS has claimed the lives of more than 36,000,000 people in all parts of the globe. This includes more than 700,000.

Biden spoke out during the 2020 campaign to renew the national strategy which President Barack Obama started back in 2010.

According to a top administration official, “President Biden honors that promise by releasing a new national HIV/AIDS Strategy on World AIDS Day. This framework and a direction will guide the administration’s planning, research, and policies.”

Biden announces the plan while the COVID-19 pandemic has left more than 48million people worldwide, with more than 700,000. In the United States, the COVID-19 epidemic is still raging. Another example of the challenges world leaders have in eradicating disease is this.

A 98-page document outlines the strategy for AIDS. It aims at addressing social issues related to HIV risk and improving health outcomes. This strategy calls for reforming state laws to criminalize HIV transmission. It also focuses on ways to get the private sector involved to fight this epidemic.

Biden’s budget request included $670 million for continued implementation of the Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. initiative — $267 million more than previous levels.