AIDS 2012: Interview with MAC AIDS Fund Director Nancy Mahon

The White House Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Controls and Prevention has granted me interviews with key leaders in the Administration's National HIV/AIDS Strategy.

The second in this series for the Black AIDS Institute: MAC AIDS Fund Global Executive and Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS Chair Nancy Mahon.

The Obama Administration released the nation’s first National HIV/AIDS Strategy two years ago this month. At that time, the goal of  "zero new infections" seemed unlikely--especially among some advocates who were in Vienna, Austria for the opening of the 18th International AIDS Conference.

Fast forward two years. More than 25,000 researchers, activists, service providers and policy makers are attending the 19th AIDS Conference in Washington D.C., and as a result of several groundbreaking advances many attending are optimistic about the likelihood of an AIDS-free generation. It’s possible to "dramatically decrease the number of new infections," said Nancy Mahon, senior vice president, MAC Cosmetics and global executive director of the MAC AIDS Fund. Mahon also chairs the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS.

Much of the new focus is around "treatment as prevention"—aggressive antiretroviral treatment for the newly diagnosed HIV-positive. "This was a game-changer," said Mahon. "Not only does it treat the individual but dramatically decreases the likelihood that they will transmit the virus."

Read the full article HERE.

Watch Nancy Mahon explain MAC's unique corporate giving policy AFTER THE JUMP ...