USAID is observing World AIDS Day this year by celebrating ten years of our HIV and AIDS work under PEPFAR.

Meet Gift. Today is her 10th birthday and she is celebrating the past decade of her life free of HIV. Thanks to life-saving antiretroviral (ARV) drugs funded by the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Gift’s mom – who has been living with HIV – was able to protect Gift from the virus when she was born 10 years ago. Gift's 10th Birthday

Thanks to ARVs, support and care from their local community, and access to other preventive health services, such as voluntary medical male circumcision, Gift and her family have been empowered to live healthy and happy lives.

VIDEO: World AIDS Day 2013: Gift’s Last 10 Years

Note: Gift is a fictional character representing families and communities around the world affected by HIV and AIDS.

Follow @USAIDGH on Twitter through World AIDS Day, observed on December 2, for key facts, resources, and photos from our programs and partners and join the conversation using the hashtag #WAD2013.