Getting to Zero

U.S. Consul General Jennifer McIntyre joins actor Karthi and Dr. A.C. Mohandoss of TANSACS at the human chain event held to raise awareness on World AIDS Day on December 1, 2011 at Marina Beach.

U.S. Consul General Jennifer McIntyre commemorated World AIDS DAY on December 1, 2011 at two events.  She and U.S. Economic Officer Maxwell J. Hamilton celebrated the Centers for Disease Control’s 10th anniversary of working with the government of Tamil Nadu in the fight against HIV and AIDS.  The program, which was held at the Egmore Museum Theatre in Chennai, highlighted the goal of “Getting to Zero.”

Consul General McIntyre also joined popular Tamil actor Karthi, the Tamil Nadu State AIDS Control Society (TANSACS), and hundreds of students from Red Ribbon clubs across the state in making a human chain at Marina Beach.

“Getting to Zero” refers to the goal of reducing new HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths.  As noted by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, it’s also about raising an AIDS-free generation.  “…By an AIDS-free generation, I mean one where, first, virtually no children are born with the virus; second, as these children become teenagers and adults, they are at far lower risk of becoming infected than they would be today thanks to a wide range of prevention tools; and third, if they do acquire HIV, they have access to treatment that helps prevent them from developing AIDS and passing the virus on to others,” Clinton said.

The United States, through the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), provides expert technical cooperation to support HIV prevention and treatment.