Barack Obama’s Good News in the Fight Against HIV/AIDS

Former President Barack Obama brought us some good news yesterday. In a taped video message during Jimmy Kimmel’s third-annual (RED) Shopathon, where Kimmel devotes his show to promoting HIV/AIDS awareness, Obama lauded the work being done by those fighting the disease and the progress made in the last few years to treat it. “I know we live in a time when cable news and our Twitter feeds can make it feel like cynicism is everywhere,” said Obama. “But when it comes to the fight against HIV/AIDS there is some genuinely good news to share. For the first time in history, more than half of all people living with the virus are on life-saving medication. Since the peak of the virus, AIDS related deaths have been cut in half.” After commenting on the accomplishments of those fighting HIV/AIDS, Obama finished the video with a bit of levity by offering those who donate a chance to pilot Air Force One or view secret government files on aliens -- before being reminded that he can’t offer those types of perks anymore. The video aired as part of the lead-up to Friday’s World AIDS Day 2017. Watch it here.