Collaboration with the World Health Organization

The United States works closely with the World Health Organization (WHO) to support the implementation of evidence-based policies and sound management.

WHO provides technical leadership and plays a critical role in establishing norms and standards for a wide range of areas within the international public health response to HIV/AIDS. As a member state with considerable expertise in HIV/AIDS, the United States has been intimately involved in formulating HIV/AIDS-related policy and guidelines, actively participating in the World Health Assembly -- where Emergency Plan policy often informs the discussion -- and partnering with WHO and host countries to adopt and implement such policies.

Areas of collaboration have included developing recommendations for the expansion of HIV testing with an emphasis on integrating HIV testing services into routine clinical care. Collaborations with WHO have also resulted in significant advances in policy and action regarding medical transmission, including injection and blood safety. The United States and WHO have also worked together to formulate strategies for joint TB/HIV activities at the international, national and sub-national levels.