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Congresswoman McCollum's Statement on World AIDS Day

December 1, 2012

Each year, we take a moment on December 1 to recognize the millions of individuals worldwide living with HIV/AIDS and also remember the countless loved ones we have lost. Over the past 30 years, the World AIDS Community has come together to discover new treatments, promote prevention, and fight discrimination. While we have had remarkable successes, our work is not done and new goals lie within our reach.

Earlier this week, I was fortunate to reconnect with Florence Ngobeni, a mother living with HIV in South Africa. After the tragic death of her young daughter, Florence dedicated her life to ensuring no more mothers would endure the pain of losing a child to HIV/AIDS. An ambassador for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, her passion and commitment are inspiration to me and so many others.

I am encouraged by so many community leaders, researchers, activists, health professionals, and caregivers I have met over the years, both in Minnesota and around the world. These champions have made ending this horrible epidemic and caring for those with the disease their life mission. As we look forward, I am committed to continuing our progress and working with leaders like Florence to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS and one day finding a cure.

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