Welcoming Francisco Ruiz as the Next Director of the White House Office of National AIDS Policy

Francisco Ruiz Joins White House as Director of the Office of National AIDS Policy

As the President’s Domestic Policy Advisor, I am delighted to announce that Francisco Ruiz has joined our team at the White House as the next Director of the White House Office of National AIDS Policy (ONAP).

Accelerating Efforts to End the HIV Epidemic

Accelerating our efforts to end the HIV epidemic in the United States and improve the quality of life for people with HIV remains a critical public health priority for the Biden-Harris Administration. In my time in public service, we’ve seen a massive reduction in new HIV cases since their peak in the mid-1980s, and people with HIV living longer, healthier lives. But gains remain uneven, and we must make more effective use of the powerful HIV prevention, care, and treatment tools now available.

In his nearly three years at the White House as Director of ONAP, Harold Phillips championed that work, leading development of the Biden-Harris Administration’s National HIV/AIDS Strategy and working tirelessly to illustrate the need for a National PrEP Program as described in the President’s FY23, FY24 and FY25 budgets. Harold has done incredible work and we wish him well in his new role as Deputy Director of Programs at NMAC.

Welcome to Francisco Ruiz

It is with great enthusiasm that I welcome Francisco as the incoming ONAP Director. Francisco is a seasoned public health expert renowned for his extensive collaboration with community-based organizations, national coalitions, and government agencies at the local, state, and federal levels.

His professional journey is marked by a commitment to forging robust connections and fostering enduring partnerships aimed at tackling health inequities and improving outcomes, particularly for communities historically marginalized and underserved. Francisco’s dedication to promoting health equity is rooted in his passion and expertise in devising and executing programs, policies, and health communications that are science-based and community-informed.

As the first ever Latino serving as the ONAP Director, Francisco brings a unique blend of professional expertise and personal experience to this pivotal role. The son of Mexican immigrants and a first-generation college graduate, Francisco is also a person living with HIV. This combination of professional acumen and personal insight will help him address the multifaceted challenges of the HIV epidemic, ensuring that our strategies are not only grounded in scientific rigor but also intimately connected with the experiences of those most impacted.

I hope you will join me in bidding farewell to Harold and welcoming Francisco to the White House.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • Target 3.3: By 2030, end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and neglected tropical diseases and combat hepatitis, water-borne diseases, and other communicable diseases.
   • Indicator: Reduction in new HIV cases and improvement in the quality of life for people with HIV.

2. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

   • Target 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies, and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies, and action in this regard.
   • Indicator: Improving outcomes and reducing health inequities for historically marginalized and underserved communities affected by HIV.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Analysis

The article addresses two Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that are connected to the issues highlighted:

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

The article emphasizes the importance of accelerating efforts to end the HIV epidemic in the United States and improve the quality of life for people with HIV. This aligns with SDG 3, which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. Specifically, Target 3.3 of SDG 3 focuses on ending the epidemics of AIDS and other communicable diseases. The reduction in new HIV cases and the improvement in the quality of life for people with HIV serve as indicators to measure progress towards this target.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

The article highlights the need to make more effective use of HIV prevention, care, and treatment tools to address the uneven gains in the fight against HIV. This relates to SDG 10, which aims to reduce inequalities within and among countries. Target 10.3 of SDG 10 specifically focuses on reducing inequalities of outcome and promoting appropriate legislation and action to eliminate discrimination. The article implies that improving outcomes and reducing health inequities for historically marginalized and underserved communities affected by HIV can be used as an indicator to measure progress towards this target.

By addressing these SDGs and their targets, the article demonstrates the commitment of the Biden-Harris Administration to prioritize public health and work towards ending the HIV epidemic in the United States while promoting health equity and reducing inequalities.

Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.

Source: hiv.gov

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