We missed the occasion. August 18 was the 34th year of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP). Established in 1990 as the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency (CARE) Act, the program was named after Ryan White, the Indiana teenager who--along with his mom, Jeanne White--worked to overcome AIDS discrimination and advocate for resources to deal with the emerging epidemic.
The RWHAP has evolved over the decades, from its early focus on palliative care to incorporating highly effective antiretroviral therapies within the Ryan White model of comprehensive care. Today, over half a million people with HIV in the U.S. get RWHAP care. In 2022, 89.6% of RWHAP clients receiving HIV medical care were virally suppressed, compared to 69.5% in 2010 (HRSA, 2023).
Learn about the history of the RWHAP.
See also: Ryan White: Through the Lens of Taro Yamasaki, 8/21/234 Library of Congress Blog.