August 18, 2014
Dear Advocate,
A new report from
amfAR and AVAC argues that critical and expensive decisions made with incomplete data can undermine the response to the AIDS epidemic—even as the systems for collecting these data continue to improve. The report,
Data Watch: Closing a Persistent Gap in the AIDS Response, describes the issues and identifies critical areas where better, more complete data are needed to guide the key decisions for the response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
Download the report here.
Data Watch makes the case that improving data systems is essential to achieving true progress in slowing and ultimately ending the epidemic—
a goal that’s been set for 2030 by UNAIDS. The report describes the strengths and weaknesses of the data available from the major sources, including PEPFAR, UNAIDS and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS Tuberculosis and Malaria, and provides an advocates’ guide to calling for better information. The report complements AVAC and amfAR’s 2012
An Action Agenda to End AIDS, which made the case for a more business-like approach to ending the epidemic and proposed a multi-year plan with concrete strategies, targets and timelines.
More information on
Data Watch is available in an op-ed jointly published by amfAR and AVAC
appearing today in The Hill, a newspaper focused on the United States Congress.
Data Watch is a living document that will be regularly updated to help all of the stakeholders engaged in ending AIDS understand what is known, what gaps need to be filled, and what existing information needs to be better analyzed to drive strategic action and accelerate progress toward ending AIDS.
As always, questions and comment are
most welcome!
Best,
AVAC
