The end of an epidemic is within our reach. Today marks the 29^th celebration of World AIDS Day where people around the globe remember those who have died from the disease, celebrate the life of those living with HIV and reignite the fight to finally end this epidemic once and for all.

The United Nations reports that as of 2016, 36.7 million people were living with HIV with only 53 percent of those people having access to treatment. Medical professionals know that starting treatment as soon as someone is diagnosed is the most effective way of preventing the spread of the virus. This is part of UNAIDS’ ambitious goal to end the epidemic by 2020.

The UNAIDS 90-90-90 plan hopes to have 90 percent of all people living with HIV know their HIV status, 90 percent of people diagnosed with HIV receiving sustained antiretroviral therapy and 90 percent of people receiving that treatment to have viral suppression by 2020.

These are ambitious goals. But, they are ambitious only because of funding. We currently have the medical technology and infrastructure to get ahead of this epidemic and stop it in its tracks. What is lacking, however, is the funding.

The U.S. has two funding mechanisms to help fight the spread of AIDS around the world. The first mechanism is the UN Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. This agency receives funding from global donors and helps middle and low income countries provide medication and testing to those who need it.

The second mechanism, the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), was started under the George W. Bush administration. This government agency was established to combat the spread of the disease in developing countries whose populations were being decimated by the epidemic. Now, activists and the former president himself are calling for PEPFAR to be fully funded so that its amazing work can continue until the epidemic is over.

We’ve come a long way since the early days of the epidemic. There are now medications like PrEP to prevent the spread of HIV. People living with HIV have more treatment options and drug prices have come down. However, the fight is far from over. Our legislative leaders need to make ending this epidemic a priority by fully funding PEPFAR and the UN Global Fund. The end of this terrible epidemic is within our grasp if only our elected representatives act and provide the necessary agencies with the funding they need.

You can help celebrate World AIDS Day by contacting your representatives and asking that they commit to fully funding PEPFAR and the Global Fund. Get tested, know your status and fight for funding.