Since 1988, Dec. 1 has been recognized as World AIDS Day. Over the years, researchers have made great strides in diagnosing and treating HIV and AIDS, but more progress is needed.
When World AIDS Day was first established in the late 1980s, being diagnosed with HIV/AIDS was largely considered a death sentence. In the past 40 years, that outlook has changed.
While HIV/AIDS remains a public health challenge for countries across the world, it’s now considered a more manageable disease thanks to innovative treatments.
Still, the goal is to avoid AIDS in the first place. That starts with taking steps to prevent HIV, the virus that leads to AIDS. That’s the theme of this year’s World AIDS Day: a goal of ending new HIV cases by the year 2030.
A Look Back
The first cases of the disease that came to be known as AIDS were seen in the United States in the early 1980s. At that time, the disease was usually identified in its end stages, when it caused major complications that led to death.
In 1982, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention first used the term “AIDS.” Two years later, researchers identified the underlying cause of AIDS, calling it “HTLV-II.” HTLV-II is the virus that would later be renamed human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV.
The 1980s and early 1990s were a bleak time for those diagnosed with HIV or AIDS. Still, there was hope. Researchers at the time were conducting many studies into potential therapies that could decrease mortality associated with the disease.
The FDA approved the first medication for treating AIDS in early 1987. This medication, which was previously being researched as an anti-cancer drug, marked a turning point in the treatment of AIDS. It was followed by other medications that proved to be safer and more efficient in treating the disease.
In 1995, more than 40,000 people in the United States died of AIDS. That number began to steadily decrease in the years thereafter, thanks to new medications, including combination therapies. These medications stop HIV from replicating, which can prevent it from developing into AIDS.
What’s Ahead
HIV remains a major health issue. Each year, more than 30,000 people in the United States acquire an HIV infection, with many people unaware they have the virus.
That number has decreased by more than two-thirds since the mid-1980s as people learned how to protect themselves from HIV infection. Numbers decreased even more when the FDA approved pre-exposure prophylaxis in 2012, more commonly known as PrEP.
In addition to PrEP, antiretroviral therapy (ART) has made significant strides in stopping the spread of HIV. When taken correctly, ART enables people living with HIV to achieve an undetectable viral load, meaning the virus cannot be transmitted to sexual partners. You may see this described as “undetectable = untransmittable” or “U=U.” ART also lowers the risk of infection through injected drugs by at least 74 percent.
Still, there’s more room for improvement. As we mark another World AIDS Day, we want to take steps toward making HIV and AIDS a thing of the past.
That requires increasing awareness about how to prevent HIV. Protect yourself and others with these basic steps:
- Avoid injectable drug use, or use only new, sterile needles.
- Know how to use condoms correctly — and do so every time.
- Limit your number of sexual partners.
- Know your status — get tested regularly.
You can also talk with a medical provider, including those at Cempa Community Care, about taking PrEP to prevent the transmission of HIV. This is especially important if you’re at a higher risk of acquiring HIV, such as if you have a partner with the virus.
Shining a Light on a Brighter Future
For nearly 40 years, Cempa has been a leader in infectious disease care, especially HIV and AIDS treatment and prevention. As of October 2025, our viral load suppression rate reached 95.5% — far exceeding the national average of 67%. This milestone reflects the dedication of our care teams and the trust of the people we serve.
With continued access to high-quality care, prevention tools like PrEP, and community-wide education, we can work together toward a future without new HIV infections.
Together, we can end the spread of HIV. In addition to HIV testing and treatment for infectious diseases, you can have affordable access to a full range of health services, including primary care, dental care, behavioral health, and more. To schedule an appointment or learn more, visit cempa.org or call 423.265.2273.
