HIV: US giving a hand up to young women

Re: "Cultural factors at play in Africa's HIV crisis" (Michael Gerson column, 4-22).

Gerson gives a personal appeal for continuation of the urgent work that is successfully treating AIDS through the U.S. Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

Through his own eyes he sees how important it is that this fund will now include funding an initiative called DREAMS, designed to dramatically reduce new HIV infections in adolescent girls and young women in high-burden "hot spots" in 10 African countries.

The idea of surrounding the women and girls with support and services in every part of their lives is such a powerful strategy for curbing the epidemic and giving hope for their lives.

This story was originally published April 27, 2016 at 2:01 PM with the headline "HIV: US giving a hand up to young women."